Influence of Family Environment on the Scientific Fitness Literacy of Preschool and School Children in China: A National Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Scientific fitness literacy (SFL) is a holistic concept based on physical literacy but has a smaller scope and is more specific to exercise and scientific fitness. We developed an instrument to assess SFL and explored the differences and similarities in the effects of the home environment on children’s SFL. Data from a nationwide stratified random sample of children were analyzed using multiple linear regression. SFL scores were significantly lower for preschoolers than for school-age children. The family environment has an impact throughout the preschool and school years, with school-age children’s SFL being less influenced by family members than preschool children; screen time has a negative impact on their SFL but reducing the number of electronic devices and increasing parental physical activity and modeling can alleviate its impact. The economic status of the family is crucial, with sports consumption expenditure and household sports equipment ownership being favourable factors for children’s SFL. Positive parental attitudes and sporting habits have a positive impact on their children’s SFL. The findings of this study can be used to improve children’s SFL in the home environment and to take effective measures to avoid the risk factors.

Study on the Status of Scientific Fitness Literacy of Rural Left-Behind Minors and the Influence of Family Environment

“…Except for the SFL section of the young children questionnaire, which does not contain the attitude dimension, the questionnaire for several age groups contains the three dimensions of attitude, skills, and habits, and the reliability of this questionnaire has been verified to reflect the level of SFL and its sub-dimensions of minors [2,10]. Attitude (emotional level, including value judgments, emotional likes or dislikes, and behavior tendencies), ability and skills (physical level, including motor and exercise skills, recognition, and selfprotection skills), behavior and habits (behavior level, including the frequency, intensity, duration, and persistence of the behavior).…”

“…Parents are not only the most important resource for children's psychological development but also the starting point and cornerstone for the healthy psychological development of their children. The influence of family environment on SFL in 3-9-year-old children has been analyzed in depth [2], in that behavioral factors such as parental example, involvement, encouragement and persuasion, instrumental support and restriction, and the level of parental education all have an impact on children's SFL score. Moreover, parental education provides more opportunities for teenagers to engage in healthy behaviors [3], and also parental social status [4] and sports participation [5] have some effects on children's sports participation.…”