Acta Univ. Palacki. Olomuc., Gymn. 2008 38(4): 17-24

The effect of parents' physical activity and inactivity on their children's physical activity and sitting

Erik Sigmund, Kateřina Turoňová, Dagmar Sigmundová, Miroslava Přidalová

Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University, Olomouc

Next to genetic predispositions, performance of physical activity (PA) in children is influenced by a variety of variables including the parents' PA. The aim of this study is to describe associations between PA and sitting in children aged 8-13 and their parents according to sex and to examine whether their participation in organized PA influences a higher level of total PA. The level of performed PA, time spent sitting and their participation in organized PA were examined in 193 children (84 girls and 109 boys) and their parents (183 mothers and 157 fathers) using the Czech version of the IPAQ questionnaire. We have indentified positive associations between parents' physical activities, which are the strongest in the duration of walking (rS = 0.48-0.71; p < 0.001). A longer duration of total PA in daughters, sons and their fathers and mothers is related to a shorter daily period of time spent sitting (rS = 0.08-0.40). A longer period of time spent daily in sitting in parents is associated (rS = 0.28-0.42; p < 0.006) with a longer period of time spent sitting in their children. Children, both daughters and sons, and their mothers, who participate in organized PA twice or more times a week, show a significantly longer period of time spent performing vigorous PA (p < 0.02; eta2 > 0.05) than children whose mothers are without any participation in organized PA. Based on the associations found between physical activity, sitting and participation in organized PA, we can agree with the statement that "more physically active parents are bringing up more physically active children" (it is more apparent in sons). On the other hand "less physically active parents are bringing up less physically active children" (it is more apparent in daughters). Participation in organized PA in children and mothers positively influences higher levels of PA in total, especially of vigorous PA.

Keywords: Walking, vigorous and organized physical activity, IPAQ questionnaire, mother, father, daughter, son

Prepublished online: May 12, 2009; Published: September 1, 2008  Show citation