Parental Influences on the Physical Activity Behavior of Children of Various Ethnic Backgrounds

Abstract

Childhood overweight is a serious public health concern. Approximately 15% of adolescents and children ages 6-19 are overweight. Promoting physical activity is one key in fighting the obesity epidemic. The purpose of this study was to explore parental influences on the physical activity behavior of children of various ethnic backgrounds and of low socioeconomic status. Although the majority of the children self-identified as Black or African American, the full sample was considered to be children of various ethnic backgrounds since there was representation from other ethnic groups. This effort addressed the void of ethnically diverse youth physical activity research.

Using the Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model as a theoretical framework (Welk, 1999), direct and indirect parental influences were investigated. Four specific parental influencing strategies were also examined. This study replicated a previous study by Welk, Wood, and Morss (2003). The survey administered combined the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (Kowalski, Crocker, & Faulkner, 1997), the Children's Attraction to Physical Activity scale (Brustad, 1993, 1996), the athletic competence scale from the Perceived Competence Scale for Children (Harter, 1985), and a series of parental influence measures designed by Welk et al. (2003).

Parents in this sample influence children's physical activity behavior both directly and indirectly. Parental support strategies other than role modeling were found to significantly predict physical activity, perceived athletic competence, and attraction to physical activity. There was evidence that suggested the general measure of physical activity and the measure of perceived competence introduced cultural bias and therefore did not fully capture the experiences of the children in this sample.