Activity Preferences and Participation of School-Age Children Living in Urban and Rural Environments

Abstract

It is important for therapists to be knowledgeable about the impact of the environment on children's participation patterns and activity preferences. This study investigated the activity preference and participation among school-age children living in urban and rural locations. The participation patterns and preferences for activities of 58 typically developing children (32 males and 26 females; response rate of 38.7%) aged 8-12 years were assessed across both urban (n = 24) and rural (n = 34) regions of southwest Victoria, Australia. The participation patterns and preferences for activities were assessed using the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and Preferences for Activities of Children (CAPE/PAC). An independent samples t-test was used to determine whether significant differences existed for the CAPE/PAC scores for urban and rurally based children as well as boys and girls. Significant differences were found between the scores of children living in urban and rural areas on the following subscales: CAPE Diversity, CAPE Intensity, CAPE Whom, CAPE Where, PAC Physical Preference, and PAC Social Preference. A significant difference for rural and urban groups was found on the following CAPE activity types: Recreation Diversity, Recreation Intensity, Social Diversity, Social Intensity, Self-Improvement Diversity, and Self-Improvement Intensity. Rurally based children were engaged in a broader range of activities and did so more frequently than urban children. Differences in gender were identified with girls preferring to participate in social and skill-based activities and being more likely to participate with friends or people outside their home. However, there were no significant differences in the participation patterns of boys and girls. Physical, social, and structural aspects of the location where a child lives impact the frequency, type of activities, and whom a child participates with most frequently in out-of-school activities. The activity participation of boys and girls in Australia has become quite similar.

Promoting Healthy Lifestyle and Well-Being in Adolescents through Outdoor Physical Activity

“…We found no significant differences between Czech and Polish adolescents in PA preferences, which is in line with the findings of Křen [32] and Neuls [52]. Brown et al [53] reached similar conclusions in their research of activity preferences in school-aged children in rural and urban locations. There were no significant differences in the participation patterns of boys and girls.…”

Recreational activities and motor skills of children in kindergarten

“…Girls, on the other hand, are more likely to behave as spectator-players during invasion games (Gutierrez and García-López 2012). Girls also show a preference for social and skill-based activities (Brown, O'Keefe, and Stagnitti 2011) and activities defined by Cowart and colleagues as 'arts' (i.e. dance, music, and crafts).…”

Desenvolvimento motor de crianças em zonas rurais e urbanas: um estudo comparativo

“…Porém, indo ao encontro dos dados de nosso estudo, Capellini et al 21 identificaram em uma pesquisa com crianças italianas de 6 a 7 anos de idade, que as residentes em meio urbano apresentavam um equilíbrio inferior, quando comparadas ao das crianças em áreas rurais. Com base em nossos resultados, foi possível destacar a influência do fator ambiental no contexto do desenvolvimento infantil, e nesse sentido, alguns autores como Pedrosa et al 22 e Brown et al 23 defendem o ambiente rural como o meio demográfico mais favorável ao desenvolvimento motor das crianças. Pedrosa et al 22 reiteram que o estilo de vida é mais ativo nas zonas rurais, principalmente pelo favorecimento do ambiente, no qual as crianças desenvolvem com mais facilidade atividades cotidianas que estão associadas ao movimento, como andar de bicicleta, correr, dentre outras.…”

“…Pedrosa et al 22 reiteram que o estilo de vida é mais ativo nas zonas rurais, principalmente pelo favorecimento do ambiente, no qual as crianças desenvolvem com mais facilidade atividades cotidianas que estão associadas ao movimento, como andar de bicicleta, correr, dentre outras. Ademais, Brown et al 23 evidenciaram que crianças residentes no meio rural estão engajadas em uma ampla gama de atividades e apresentam uma maior frequência nessas atividades, do que as crianças que vivem em meios urbanos.…”