Correlates of physical activity of children and adolescents: A systematic review of reviews

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify promoting and inhibiting correlates associated with the physical activity (PA) of children and adolescents (aged 3–18). The intention was to demonstrate the complexity of correlates of PA and to determine possible influencing factors. Design: A systematic review of reviews. Methods: Systematic database research was carried out in Medline, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Springer Link and Thieme Connect. Inclusion criteria were that the study: (a) was classified as a systematic review with or without meta-analysis; (b) was published between 2000 and 2009; (c) dealt with children and adolescents aged 3–18; (d) had as its dependent variable any measure of overall PA; and (e) reviewed associations between quantitatively measured variables and PA. The internal validity of the systematic reviews thus identified was evaluated using a validated quality instrument. Results: Nine systematic reviews without meta-analysis and one systematic review with meta-analysis were selected. Altogether 16 correlates were identified which were consistently associated with PA of children and/or adolescents: sex, age, ethnicity, parental education, family income, socioeconomic status, perceived competence, self-efficacy, goal orientation/motivation, perceived barriers, participation in community sports, parental support, support from significant others, access to sport/recreational facilities und time outdoors. Conclusions: Although the findings of the reviews covered are to some extent heterogeneous, it is possible to identify consistent correlates of PA in children and adolescents. The results show that PA is a complex and multi-dimensional behaviour determined by numerous biological, psychological, sociocultural and environmental factors.

Outdoor time, physical activity and sedentary time among young children: The 2012–2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey

“…12 Consistent with previous research, we found that boys 5-6 years of age were more active than their female counterparts and that low family income was associated with reduced odds of meeting PA guidelines. 24 However, these associations were not observed in younger children. In contrast, we found no relationships between outdoor time and measures of SED or screen time in both 3-4 and 5-6 year olds.…”

“…All models were stratified by age group. Control variables were chosen given previous research suggesting that age, sex, household income and parental education may be important correlates of PA. 24 Binomial logistic regression analyses examined the effect of each additional hour/day of outdoor time on the likelihood of meeting the screen time guidelines. To examine adherence to the PA guidelines, linear regression models assuming a betabinomial distribution were used.…”

“…30 Finally, the use of a betabinomial distribution provides a more robust estimate of adherence to PA guidelines. 24 …”

Parental influence on children’s physical activity in urban green spaces

“…For instance, 12 review papers have examined the association between child's PA and parent's PA (for review see (Yao and Rhodes, 2015)). Three of 12 studies do not support the link between child's PA and parent's PA (Trost and Loprinzi, 2011;Bauman, et al, 2012;Sterdt, et al, 2013) while eight of them found the relationship inconclusive (Sallis, et al, 2000;Biddle, et al, 2005;Gustafson and Rhodes, 2006;Van Der Horst, et al, 2007;Edwardson and Gorely, 2010;Craggs, et al, 2011;Biddle, et al, 2011;Webber and Loescher, 2013). Due to different findings, more research on this topic is needed.…”

Predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors for physical activity in boys and girls from socially disadvantaged communities

“…However, among children living in socially disadvantaged communities, other factors that are predictive of child physical activity such as parental physical activity support and motivation (Sterdt, Liersch and Walter, 2014) may provide more important targets for physical activity intervention programmes.…”