Physical activity in young children: a systematic review of parental influences
Open accessAbstract
The primary aim of this review was to identify and evaluate the strength of associations of the key parental factors measured in studies examining early childhood physical activity (PA). A systematic review of the literature, using databases PsychINFO, Medline, Academic Search Complete, PSYCHinfo, and CINHAL, published between January 1986 and March 2011 was conducted; 20 papers were relevant for the current review. While 12 parenting variables were identified, only 5 of these had been investigated sufficiently to provide conclusive findings. There were inconsistencies in the findings involving the social learning variable parental enjoyment and variables involving parental behaviours such as maternal depression and self-efficacy, and rules for sedentary behaviour, and parental perceptions, which included perceived importance of PA, fear of safety, and perception of child's motor competence. Given these inconsistencies, a meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether the method of measuring PA (objective or subjective) influenced the strength of associations between the parental factors and young children's PA. There was no difference in the strength of associations in the studies that used objective or subjective measurement (via parent self-report). Further investigation is needed to clarify and understand the specific parental influences and behaviours that are associated with PA in young children. In particular, longitudinal research is needed to better understand how parental influences and PA levels of children during the formative preschool and early elementary school years are associated.
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There is a positive association between children's physical activity levels and the physical activity levels of their parents.
“While one review identified a positive association between children's PA levels and the PA levels of their parents (58)”
From How can physical activity be promoted among children and adolescents? A systematic review of reviews across settings (2019) · cites this paper as [58]
Parental encouragement and support can increase physical activity in children.
“All three reviews stated that parental encouragement and support can increase PA in children (58, 59), as well as reduce sedentary behaviour (57).”
From How can physical activity be promoted among children and adolescents? A systematic review of reviews across settings (2019) · cites this paper as [58]
Busy work schedules and parent fatigue have negative effects on children's physical activity levels.
“The availability of PA equipment seemed to have a positive effect on children's PA levels, whereas busy work schedules and parent fatigue demonstrated negative effects (58).”
From How can physical activity be promoted among children and adolescents? A systematic review of reviews across settings (2019) · cites this paper as [58]
Three systematic reviews were identified that deal specifically with interventions in the family and home setting.
“Three systematic reviews were identified that deal specifically with interventions in the family and home setting (Table 3) (57–59).”
From How can physical activity be promoted among children and adolescents? A systematic review of reviews across settings (2019) · cites this paper as [58]
The availability of physical activity equipment seems to have a positive effect on children's physical activity levels.
“The availability of PA equipment seemed to have a positive effect on children's PA levels, whereas busy work schedules and parent fatigue demonstrated negative effects (58).”
From How can physical activity be promoted among children and adolescents? A systematic review of reviews across settings (2019) · cites this paper as [58]
Inconsistencies exist regarding the influence of parental enjoyment, maternal depressive symptoms, maternal self-efficacy, parental rules limiting sedentary behaviour, parental perceptions of the importance of physical activity, the level of child safety, and the child's physical competence on children's physical activity.
“Inconsistencies were found regarding the influence of parental enjoyment, maternal depressive symptoms, maternal self-efficacy, parental rules limiting sedentary behaviour, parental perceptions on the importance of PA, the level of child safety, and the child's physical competence (58).”
From How can physical activity be promoted among children and adolescents? A systematic review of reviews across settings (2019) · cites this paper as [58]
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Parental correlates in child and adolescent physical activity: a meta-analysis
Yao, C. A., & Rhodes, R. E. (2015) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/s12966-015-0163-y · Cited by 540 · see citing works
“A number of narrative reviews have consistently identified an association between parental support and children’s PA [6-9,11,12,14,16,18-21].”
BackgroundResultInfluentialXu, H., Wen, L. M., & Rissel, C. (2015) · Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1155/2015/546925 · Cited by 454 · see citing works
“Findings from a recent systematic review [16] investigating associations between parental factors (parents’ role Hindawi Publishing Corporation Journal of Obesity Volume 2015, Article ID 546925, 23 pages http://dx.”
BackgroundMessing, S., Rütten, A., Abu-Omar, K., Ungerer-Röhrich, U., Goodwin, L., Burlacu, I., & Gediga, G. (2019) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2019.00055 · Cited by 259 · see citing works
“The availability of PA equipment seemed to have a positive effect on children’s PA levels, whereas busy work schedules and parent fatigue demonstrated negative effects (58).”
BackgroundInfluential
- Authors
- Mitchell, J., Skouteris, H., McCabe, M., Ricciardelli, L. A., Milgrom, J., Baur, L. A., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., & Dwyer, G.
- Affiliations
- Deakin University (AU)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Skouteris, Helen
- ORCID
- Venue
- Early Child Development and Care
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-11
- Volume
- 182
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1411-1437
- ISSN
- 0300-4430 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-8275
- OpenAlex
- W2015995510
- Cited by
- 84
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Early Child Development and Care (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Swinburne figshare (Swinburne University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Children's Physical and Motor Development
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- physical activity, young children, parental influence, parenting, maternal depression, parental self-efficacy, preschool children, early elementary school children
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