Cited by 98Obesity, Physical Activity, DietPhysical Activity and HealthNutrition, Health and Food Behavior

The next step in health behavior research: The need for ecological moderation analyses-an application to diet and physical activity at childcare

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Gubbels, Jessica S, Van Kann, Dave HH, de Vries, Nanne K, Thijs, Carel, Kremers, Stef PJ·2014·International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The ecological perspective holds that human behavior depends on the interaction of different environmental factors and personal characteristics, but it lacks validation and operationalization. In the current paper, an ecological view was adopted to examine the interactive impact of several ecological systems on children's dietary intake and physical activity at childcare or similar facilities. The ecological view was operationalized into three types of interaction: 1) interaction between types of childcare environment (physical, social, political, economic); 2) interaction between micro-systems (the childcare and home environment) in meso-systems; and 3) interaction between childcare environment and child characteristics. The predictive value of each of these interactions was tested based on a systematic review of the literature. DISCUSSION: Several studies support the hypothesis that the influence of the childcare environment on children's physical activity and diet is moderated by child characteristics (age, gender), but interaction between environmental types as well as between micro-systems is hardly examined in the field of behavioral nutrition and physical activity. Qualitative studies and general child development research provide some valuable insights, but we advocate quantitative research adopting an ecological perspective on environmental influences. SUMMARY: Empirical studies operationalizing a true ecological view on diet and physical activity are scarce. Theorizing and assessment of interaction is advocated to become common practice rather than an exception in behavioral nutrition and physical activity research, in order to move the field forward.

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  • School and home are both part of a child's mesosystem; changes in the school may influence the home environment, which could enhance the effects of school health promotion.

    “Moreover, school and home are both part of a child’s mesosystem: changes in the school may also influence the home environment, which could enhance the effects of school health promotion [6,7].”
  • The school is only one of a child's microsystems; changes in children's home setting and neighbourhood, their other microsystems, also interact with the impact of changes at school.

    “In addition to these methodological, practical, and integrity aspects, there is another important aspect to consider: whereas the current paper mainly focuses on the school complexity, the school is only one of a child’s microsystems. Changes in children’s home setting and neighbourhood, their other microsystems, also interact with the impact of changes at school [7].”

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Authors
Gubbels, J. S., Van Kann, D. H., de Vries, N. K., Thijs, C., & Kremers, S. P.
Affiliations
Maastricht University (NL)
Corresponding author
Kremers, Stef PJ
Venue
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Published
2014-04-17
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
52-52
ISSN
1479-5868 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2124357600
Cited by
98
References
86
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 5
FWCI
12.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • ZonMw
  • Universiteit Maastricht
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
  • NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
Keywords
ecological systems theory, moderation analysis, childcare environment, children's diet, children's physical activity, family environment, child characteristics, age and gender differences, environmental influences on behavior, behavioral nutrition
MeSH terms
Energy Intake, Child, Child Behavior, Child, Preschool, Diet, Environment, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Male, Motor Activity, Health Behavior, Empirical Research

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