Erin Hennessy|Sheryl O. Hughes|Jeanne P. Goldberg|Raymond R. Hyatt|Christina D. Economos
Parent-child interactions and objectively measured child physical activity: a cross-sectional study
National Cancer Institute|National Institutes of Health|Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine|Tufts University|Tufts University|Tufts University
parents influence childrens behaviors directly specific parenting practices indirectly parenting style practices logistical emotional support shown positively associated child physical activity pa levels others eg monitoring relationship clear objectives study determine relationship parents parelated practices general parenting style childrens pa levelduring spring 2007 diverse group 99 parentchild dyads 29 white 49 black 22 hispanic 89 mothers living lowincome rural areas us participated crosssectional study using validated questionnaires parents selfreported parenting style authoritative authoritarian permissive uninvolved activityrelated parenting practices height weight measured dyad parents reported demographic information child pa measured objectively accelerometers expressed absolute counts minutes engaged intensityspecific activityseventysix children valid accelerometer data children engaged 1134 370 min moderatevigorous physical activity mvpa per day children permissive parents accumulated minutes mvpa uninvolved parents 1275 vs 971 p 005 parents provided average levels support children participated minutes mvpa 1142 vs 983 p 003 controlling known covariates uninvolved parenting style parenting behavior associated child physical activity parenting style moderated association two parenting practices reinforcement monitoring child physical activity specifically posthoc analyses revealed permissive parenting style group higher levels parental reinforcement monitoring associated higher levels child physical activitythis work extends current literature demonstrating potential moderating role parenting style relationship activityrelated parenting practices childrens objectively measured physical activity controlling known covariates future studies area warranted confirmed may help identify mechanism parents influence childs physical activity behavior