Parental factors associated with walking to school and participation in organised activities at age 5: Analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study

This study examines the factors associated with participation in two sources of physical activity (known to be associated with better health) for children - walking to school and taking part in organised sports and activities. Subjects of the study were from the Millennium Cohort Study, which contains 5 year follow-up of 17,561 Singleton children recruited between 2000-2002 in the UK. All participants were interviewed in their own homes at 9 months, 3 years and 5 years follow-up and all measures were self reports. Logistic regression and likelihood ratio tests were used. The study found that children are less likely to walk to school as income and parental education increase [Adjusted odds: 0.7 (95%CI: 0.6-0.8) for higher income/education compared to low income/no qualifications]. However, if the parent plays with the child in high income families the child is more likely to walk to school [Adjusted odds: 1.67 (95%CI: 1.3-2.1)]. Children taking part in organised activities are from higher income, higher education families, with a car, in a "good" area with non-working mothers. However, in low socio-economic families where the parent plays with the child, the child is more likely to take part in organised activities [Adjusted odds: 2.0 (95% CI: 1.5-2.7)]. The authors conclude that income is an important determinant of the type of activity available to children. Families that report good health behaviours (non-smoking, low TV viewing) and play with their children show higher levels of physical activity. As such, parenting practice seems to have a strong impact on their child's physical activity.

• Record URL:
  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21210998
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/14712458
• Authors:
  • Brophy, Sinead
  • Cooksey, Roxanne
  • Lyons, Ronan A
  • Thomas, Non E
  • Rodgers, Sarah E
  • Gravenor, Michael B
• Publication Date: 2011-1-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-9
• Serial:
  • BMC Public Health
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue Number: 14
  • Publisher: BioMed Central
  • ISSN: 1471-2458
  • Serial URL: http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Field studies; Health; School children; Walking
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cohort analysis; Parental influences
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01344696
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 10 2011 10:02AM