Socioeconomic Status and Physical Activity among Mothers of Young Children in an Asian City: The Mediating Role of Household Activities and Domestic Help

Abstract

Mothers of preschoolers (3 to 5 years old) risk being physically inactive. This study aimed to examine associations between socioeconomic status (education, employment, income) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among mothers of preschoolers in Hong Kong. Family functioning (e.g., having a domestic helper, division of household chores and child-related activities) was explored as a potential mediator of associations between socioeconomic indicators and the mother’s self-reported MVPA. Using zero-inflated negative binomial modelling confounder-adjusted associations between socioeconomic indicators and MVPA (total effects) were estimated. Mediation analyses (joint-significance test) were also performed. Using generalized linear mixed models, intermediate pathways were identified. No significant total effects of any socioeconomic indicator on the mother’s MVPA were found. However, mediation analyses identified a complex network of inconsistent mediators partly explaining their associations via eight pathways. Also, whilst non-residents/extended family playing with the child(ren) was not associated with any socioeconomic indicator, this was negatively associated with the mother’s MVPA. A further pathway was mediated by the mother playing with her child(ren). Extended family playing with the child(ren) was inversely associated with the mother doing so. Associations between socioeconomic indicators and MVPA among preschoolers’ mothers are complex and inconsistent, requiring further investigation in diverse contexts. Encouraging active play with their preschoolers may increase mothers’ physical activity levels.

Mothers’ Physical Activity in the New Millennium: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…Of the remaining 22 were quantitative studies, ten were cross-sectional (Brown et al, 2001;Candelaria et al, 2012;Carson et al, 2018;Carver et al, 2020;Dlugonski, Das, et al, 2017;Dlugonski & Motl, 2013;Hamilton & White, 2011;Lovell & Butler, 2015;Olvera et al, 2011;Suzuki et al, 2017). Seven other studies employed a longitudinal study design (Bell and Lee, 2005;Dearth-Wesley et al, 2012;Evenson et al, 2009;Hull et al, 2010;Rhodes et al, 2014;Sallis et al, 2001), while three studies were correlational (Adachi-Mejia et al, 2010;Cleland et al, 2008;Dombrowski, 2011), and one was a population study (Hesketh et al, 2014).…”

“…Twentythree studies reported mothers' PA level compared to WHO guidelines for PA for adults (i.e., 150 minutes of MVPA/week) or US CDC guidelines for postpartum mothers. The majority of these studies (17/23) were based on self-reports to assess participants PA (Albright et al, 2005;Bell & Lee, 2005;Brown et al, 2001;Carson et al, 2018;Carver et al, 2020;Dearth-Wesley et al, 2012;Dombrowski, 2011;Gierc et al, 2016;Hull et al, 2010;Jiryaee et al, 2015;Lovell and Butler, 2015;Mansfield et al, 2012;Mascarenhas et al, 2018;Miller et al, 2002;Sallis et al, 2001;Suzuki et al, 2017). Five studies used objective assessment (i.e., an accelerometer during seven days) (Alhassan et al, 2018;Hesketh et al, 2014;Olvera et al, 2011;Rhodes et al, 2014;Schluter et al, 2011), and only one study used a combination of objective and self-reported measurement of PA (Albright et al, 2012).…”

Genetic and Environmental Factors Contributing to Visceral Adiposity in Asian Populations

“…Asian families are more likely to prioritize academics over athletic pursuits, especially in Confucian-based cultures where success is associated with educational attainment and economic standing. This is further magnified by Western capitalistic ideals that associate success with monetary measurements [ 59 , 60 ]. As such, Asian children show increased participation in sedentary activities compared to other ethnicities: studying, computer use, homework, after-school academies, etc.…”

“…Among female immigrants, exercise appeared to hold a negative stigma, often labeled as a “selfish act” and one lesser prioritized compared to domestic duties and caretaking [ 54 ]. Mothers in Hong Kong were more likely to obtain incidental physical activity from household chores than leisure-time exercise; however, recent increases in hiring domestic help and consequent redistribution of housework leaves less opportunity for daily physical activity [ 60 ].…”

Potential Risks and Factors of Women’s Health Promotion

“…An observational study conducted in Hong Kong from 2011 to 2014 evidenced that active play with their preschool children may increase mothers’ physical activity levels [ 22 ].…”