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Ostermeier E, Tucker P, Tobin D, Clark A, Gilliland J. Parents' perceptions of their children's physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1459. [PMID: 35915418 PMCID: PMC9340749 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13829-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background COVID-19 has drastically changed the everyday lives of children, including limiting interactions with peers, loss of regularly organized activities, and closure of schools and recreational facilities. While COVID-19 protocols are in place to reduce viral transmission, they have affected children’s access to physical activity opportunities. The purpose of this study was to understand how COVID-19 has affected children’s engagement in physical activity and to identify strategies that can support children’s return to physical activity programming in public places. Methods Parents of past participants in the Grade 5 ACT-i-Pass Program in London, Ontario, Canada were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview online (in November and December 2020) via Microsoft Teams. The script was comprised of questions about their child’s physical activity levels (before, current, and anticipated following COVID-19), lifestyle changes due to COVID-19, and what service providers can do to assist children’s return to public programming. Interviews were transcribed in Microsoft Teams, reviewed by a member of the research team, and analyzed in NVivo 12 using thematic analysis. Results Twenty-seven parents participated in an interview. Four themes and two subthemes were identified during analysis: (1) modifications to everyday life (a. activity options available and b. altered social environment), (2) safety in public spaces, (3) accessibility of activities, and (4) utilizing outdoor spaces. Conclusions COVID-19 protocols have decreased children’s physical activity levels due to the loss of their regular activities, recreational spaces, and peer support. Implementing facility and activity-specific health protocols, providing outdoor activity options, and offering a variety of activity types, times, and locations are three strategies recommended by parents to help facilitate their children’s return to public recreational places. Due to the negative consequences of physical inactivity on children’s health and well-being, service providers need to implement programming and safety protocols that support children’s engagement in physical activity throughout the remainder of, and the years following, the COVID-19 pandemic. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13829-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Ostermeier
- Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Child Health and Physical Activity Laboratory, School of Occupational Therapy, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, Social Science Centre, Rm 2333-1151 Richmond Street Western University, ON, N6A 3K7, London, Canada
| | - Patricia Tucker
- Child Health and Physical Activity Laboratory, School of Occupational Therapy, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, Social Science Centre, Rm 2333-1151 Richmond Street Western University, ON, N6A 3K7, London, Canada.,School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Children's Health Research Institute, N6C 2V5, London, ON, Canada
| | - Danielle Tobin
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, Social Science Centre, Rm 2333-1151 Richmond Street Western University, ON, N6A 3K7, London, Canada
| | - Andrew Clark
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, Social Science Centre, Rm 2333-1151 Richmond Street Western University, ON, N6A 3K7, London, Canada.,Children's Health Research Institute, N6C 2V5, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jason Gilliland
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, Social Science Centre, Rm 2333-1151 Richmond Street Western University, ON, N6A 3K7, London, Canada. .,Children's Health Research Institute, N6C 2V5, London, ON, Canada. .,Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. .,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. .,Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. .,School of Health Studies, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. .,Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
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Sustaining Equality and Equity. A Scoping Review of Interventions Directed towards Promoting Access to Leisure Time Physical Activity for Children and Youth. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031235. [PMID: 35162256 PMCID: PMC8834891 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Promoting access to leisure time physical activity (LTPA) opportunities for children and youth is crucial to promote public health. Yet, ensuring sustainable interventions in this field requires theoretically informed approaches to guide the processes of developing, implementing and evaluating LTPA programs. The objective of this review was to examine how concepts of equality and equity have been operationalized in LTPA interventions for children and youth in order to identify facilitating factors and barriers to LTPA access connected to such concepts. Using a pre-piloted search strategy, three electronic databases were searched for studies of interventions aiming to promote access to LTPA in organized or community sport for children and youth. Following a screening process, 27 publications representing 25 unique interventions were included. Through careful examination of the aim and target group of each intervention, they emerged in three categories in accordance with their (implicit) understandings of equality and equity. Also, considering the processes through which the interventions within each category had been implemented leads to the conclusion that an explicit theoretical understanding of the aim of interventions will increase communal knowledge among intervention stakeholders about which facilitating factors to pursue and barriers to bypass to contribute to more socially sustainable LTPA programs.
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Ostermeier E, Tucker P, Clark A, Seabrook JA, Gilliland J. Parents' Report of Canadian Elementary School Children's Physical Activity and Screen Time during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312352. [PMID: 34886076 PMCID: PMC8656757 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 public health protocols have altered children’s daily routines, limiting their physical activity opportunities. The purpose of this study was to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected children’s (ages 10–12 years) physical activity and screen time, and to explore the impact of gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and public health constraints (i.e., facility use and social interaction) on the changes in children’s health behaviors. Online surveys were disseminated to parents at two time points: before COVID-19 (May 2019 to February 2020) and during COVID-19 (November to December 2020). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to assess changes in physical activity and screen time, and for subgroup analyses. Parents (n = 95) reported declines in children’s physical activity (Z = −2.53, p = 0.01, d = 0.18), and increases in weekday (Z = −4.61, p < 0.01, d = 0.33) and weekend screen time (Z = −3.79, p < 0.01, d = 0.27). Significant changes in physical activity and screen time behaviors were identified between gender, SES, and facility use groups. All social interaction groups underwent significant changes in screen time. Overall, COVID-19 protocols have negatively influenced children’s physical activity and screen time. Due to the negative consequences of inactivity and excessive screen time, resources must be made available to support families during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Ostermeier
- Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada;
- Child Health and Physical Activity Laboratory, School of Occupational Therapy, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada;
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (A.C.); (J.A.S.)
| | - Patricia Tucker
- Child Health and Physical Activity Laboratory, School of Occupational Therapy, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada;
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (A.C.); (J.A.S.)
- School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2V5, Canada
| | - Andrew Clark
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (A.C.); (J.A.S.)
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2V5, Canada
| | - Jamie A. Seabrook
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (A.C.); (J.A.S.)
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2V5, Canada
- School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College, London, ON N6G 1H2, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada
| | - Jason Gilliland
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (A.C.); (J.A.S.)
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2V5, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada
- Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- School of Health Studies, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-519-661-2111 (ext. 80963)
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Button BLG, Shah TI, Clark AF, Wilk P, Gilliland JA. Examining weather-related factors on physical activity levels of children from rural communities. Canadian Journal of Public Health 2020; 112:107-114. [PMID: 32661935 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-020-00324-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective was to examine the influence of weather on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light physical activity (LPA) levels of children aged 8-14 years from rural communities, an understudied Canadian population. METHODS Children (n = 90) from four communities in rural Northwestern Ontario participated in this study between September and December 2016. Children's MVPA and LPA were measured using an Actical accelerometer and demographic data were gathered from surveys of children and their parents. Weather data were collected from the closest weather station. Cross-classified regression models were used to assess the relationship between weather and children's MVPA and LPA. RESULTS Boys accumulated more MVPA than girls (b = 26.38, p < 0.01), children were more active on weekdays as compared with weekends (b = - 16.23, p < 0.01), children were less active on days with precipitation (b = - 22.88, p < 0.01), and higher temperature led to a significant increase in MVPA (b = 1.33, p < 0.01). As children aged, they accumulated less LPA (b = - 9.36, p < 0.01) and children who perceived they had higher levels of physical functioning got more LPA (b = 25.18, p = 0.02). Similar to MVPA, children had higher levels of LPA on weekdays (b = - 37.24, p < 0.01) as compared to weekend days and children accumulated less LPA (b = -50.01, p < 0.01) on days with rain. CONCLUSION The study findings indicate that weather influences rural children's MVPA and LPA. Future research is necessary to incorporate these findings into interventions to increase rural children's overall PA levels and improve their overall health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton L G Button
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tayyab I Shah
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew F Clark
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Piotr Wilk
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason A Gilliland
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. .,Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Paediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. .,Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. .,School of Health Studies, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
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Konty KJ, Day SE, Larkin M, Thompson HR, D’Agostino EM. Physical fitness disparities among New York City public school youth using standardized methods, 2006-2017. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227185. [PMID: 32271758 PMCID: PMC7144992 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Standardized physical fitness monitoring provides a more accurate proxy for youth health when compared with physical activity. Little is known about the utilization of broad-scale individual-level youth physical fitness testing to explore health disparities. We examined longitudinal trends in population-level fitness for 4th-12th grade New York City youth during 2006/7-2016/17 (average n = 510,293 per year). Analyses were performed in 2019. The primary outcome was whether or not youth achieved sex-/age-specific performance levels (called the Healthy Fitness Zone) on the aerobic capacity, muscular strength and muscular endurance tests using the NYC FITNESSGRAM. The Cooper Institute’s most recent Healthy Fitness Zone criteria were applied to all tests and years. Prevalence estimates were weighted, accounted for school clustering, adjusted for student-level sociodemographics, and run by sociodemographic subgroups and year. The overall prevalence for meeting 3 Healthy Fitness Zones increased from 15.5% (95%CI: 13.9%-17.0%) in 2006/7 to 23.3% (95%CI: 22.2%-24.4%) in 2016/17 for students in grades 4–12. Fitness for all student groups increased over time, although Hispanic and non-Hispanic black girls consistently had the lowest prevalence of meeting 3 Healthy Fitness Zones as compared to all other race/sex subgroups. Also, 9th-12th graders had a lower prevalence of meeting 3 Healthy Fitness Zones as compared to 4th-8th graders. Given forecasted sharp increases in cardiovascular disease prevalence, routine youth fitness surveillance using standardized, criterion referenced methods can identify important fitness disparities and inform interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J. Konty
- NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of School Health, New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Sophia E. Day
- NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of School Health, New York City, New York, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health and Heath Policy, City University of New York, New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Michael Larkin
- Learning, Teaching and Assessment, Plainedge School District, Massapequa, NY, United States of America
| | - Hannah R. Thompson
- Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Emily M. D’Agostino
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health and Heath Policy, City University of New York, New York City, New York, United States of America
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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6
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Livny R, Said W, Shilo S, Bar-Yoseph R, Gal S, Oren M, Levy M, Weiss R, Shehadeh N, Zuckerman-Levin N, Cohen M. Identifying sources of support and barriers to physical activity in pediatric type 1 diabetes. Pediatr Diabetes 2020; 21:128-134. [PMID: 31628818 DOI: 10.1111/pedi.12938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Reports suggest that children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) perform less than the recommended daily activity and are less active than their non-diabetic peers. We aimed to: (a) Identify barriers and sources of support for exercise performance in pediatric T1D. (b) Identify strengths and limitations in the exercise-directed education provided by our diabetes team. METHODS Patients with T1D 5 to 20 years of age were recruited while attending a routine clinic visit. Participants completed a set of questionnaires assessing demographics, health data, barriers, and sources of support for exercise performance and diabetes related exercise education. The clinics' medical staff filled-out a questionnaire assessing the exercise-directed education provided in clinic. RESULTS Ninety-six subjects were included in this study, mean age 13.7 ± 3.8 years. Median weekly reported exercise time was 3.5 hours. The two most prevalent barriers were fear of hypoglycemia and low fitness, reported by 76% and 51%, respectively. Mean family and social support scores were 4.1 ± 0.7 and 3.3 ± 1.1, respectively (1-5 scale); the latter correlated with the amount of activity performed (cc = 0.360; P < .001). The majority of participants (97%) reported receiving guidance for physical activity, to their satisfaction. Yet, knowledge and implementation were suboptimal. All staff members reported conducting routine exercise-directed teaching, with variations in frequency and content. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that in order to increase the amount of safely performed exercise in pediatric patients with T1D, fear of hypoglycemia must be addressed. Further efforts should focus on: (a) encouraging active family and social involvement (b) standardization of education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Livny
- Department of Pediatrics, Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Wasim Said
- Department of Pediatrics, Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Smadar Shilo
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Institute, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ronen Bar-Yoseph
- Pediatric Pulmonary Institute, Ruth Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shoshana Gal
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Institute, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.,Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Meirav Oren
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Institute, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.,Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Milana Levy
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Institute, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ram Weiss
- Department of Pediatrics, Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.,Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Institute, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.,The Ruth & Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Naim Shehadeh
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Institute, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.,The Ruth & Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Nehama Zuckerman-Levin
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Institute, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.,The Ruth & Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Michal Cohen
- Department of Pediatrics, Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.,Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Institute, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.,Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.,The Ruth & Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Smith C, Clark AF, Wilk P, Tucker P, Gilliland JA. Assessing the effectiveness of a naturally occurring population-level physical activity intervention for children. Public Health 2019; 178:62-71. [PMID: 31622900 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2019.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to assess the impact of a recreation access pass on grade 5 children's physical activity (PA) levels. STUDY DESIGN This is a pre-post evaluation of a population-level community-based intervention. METHODS All grade 5 students in (London, Ontario, Canada) were invited to participate in the [ACT-i-Pass] program (G5AP) in May 2014. A total of 643 children completed surveys, that included Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C), at baseline (October 2014) and 6-month follow-up (April 2015). Difference in the means t-test compared PAQ-C scores between baseline and follow-up for the sample and subgroups. Multiple regression analysis tested associations between change in PAQ-C scores and intrapersonal-, interpersonal-, and physical environment-level variables. RESULTS PA increased significantly from baseline to 6-month follow-up. Girls, visible minorities, immigrants, and children with low parental support experienced significant increases in PA. Regression found girls benefitted from the G5AP significantly more than boys, and lower parental support is related to increases in PA. CONCLUSION The findings indicate that collaboratively developed, community-based interventions can significantly increase children's PA levels, particularly among subgroups with traditionally lower PA. The pre-post evaluation of this community-based intervention provides useful evidence for developing policies and programs aimed at making population-level improvements in children's PA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Smith
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario 1151 Richmond St., London, N6A 3K7, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, N6C 2V5, Canada.
| | - A F Clark
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario 1151 Richmond St., London, N6A 3K7, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, N6C 2V5, Canada.
| | - P Wilk
- Children's Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, N6C 2V5, Canada; Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario 1151 Richmond St., London, N6A 3K7, Canada.
| | - P Tucker
- School of Occupational Therapy, University of Western Ontario 1151 Richmond St., London, N6A 3K7, Canada.
| | - J A Gilliland
- Children's Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, N6C 2V5, Canada; Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, School of Health Studies, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario 1151 Richmond St., London, N6A 3K7, Canada.
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If You Make it Free, Will They Come? Using a Physical Activity Accessibility Model to Understand the Use of a Free Children's Recreation Pass. J Phys Act Health 2019; 16:493-503. [PMID: 31138095 DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2018-0364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children's sedentary lifestyles and low physical activity levels may be countered using population-level interventions. This study examines factors influencing the use of a free community-wide physical activity access pass for grade 5 students (G5AP). METHODS A natural experiment with longitudinal data collection. A sample of 881 children completed the 9-month follow-up survey self-reporting where they used the G5AP. Two analyses were conducted: Getis-Ord GI* geographic cluster analysis of the spatial distribution of users, and logistic regression examining the relationship between use and accessibility (informational, economic, and geographic) and mobility options, while accounting for intrapersonal and interpersonal factors. RESULTS Overall, 44.9% of children used the G5AP with clusters of high use in urban areas and low use in the suburbs. Other factors significantly related to G5AP included gender (girls), informational accessibility (active recruitment), economic accessibility (median household income), geographic accessibility (facilities within 1.6 km of home), and mobility options (access to Boys & Girls Club bus). CONCLUSIONS This study found that a diverse population of children used the G5AP. To continue being successful, community-based physical activity interventions need to ensure that the intervention increases geographic, economic, and informational accessibility and provides mobility options that are available to the target population.
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Clark AF, Wilk P, Gilliland JA. Comparing Physical Activity Behavior of Children During School Between Balanced and Traditional School Day Schedules. THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH 2019; 89:129-135. [PMID: 30604444 DOI: 10.1111/josh.12722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some Canadian schools have modified their daily schedules from the traditional school day (TSD) schedule (two 15-minute breaks and one 60-minute break) to a balanced school day (BSD) schedule (two 40-minute breaks). While this change increases daily planning and instructional time, it also changes the amount of time available for moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). METHODS This study uses a case-control design to examine differences in objectively measured MVPA between children in 3 schools using a BSD schedule and 3 schools using a TSD schedule. Study participants (aged 10-12 years) were recruited from schools in Ontario, Canada. RESULTS Regardless of schedule type, girls had lower MVPA than boys, and as both boys and girls got older their MVPA significantly decreased. The findings indicate there was no statistically significant difference in the total minutes of in-school MVPA between children from BSD schools and children from TSD schools. MVPA was significantly higher for older girls attending BSD schools than older girls attending TSD schools, suggesting that implementing a BSD may help curb declining MVPA as girls enter adolescence. CONCLUSION Despite encouraging findings, more rigorous studies (ie, pre-post experiments with control) are needed to better understand how changing schedules impacts children's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Clark
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London N6A 3K7, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road East, London N6C 2V5, Canada
| | - Piotr Wilk
- Children's Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road East, London N6C 2V5, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, & Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Jason A Gilliland
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, School of Health Studies, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, & Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London N6A 3K7, Canada
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10
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Wilk P, Clark AF, Maltby A, Tucker P, Gilliland JA. Exploring the effect of parental influence on children's physical activity: The mediating role of children's perceptions of parental support. Prev Med 2018; 106:79-85. [PMID: 29030264 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test a conceptual model linking parental support and parental physical activity (PA), with children's perception of parental support and children's PA. Baseline data were drawn from the Grade 5 ACT-i-Pass community-based PA intervention conducted in London, Ontario between May and October 2014. Parent and child PA were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children, respectively. Questions pertaining to parental support and children's perception of that parental support were obtained via questionnaires. We employed structural equation modeling techniques to test the conceptual model. In total, 467 boys and 469 girls were included in the study. The model provided an acceptable model fit. Child's perception of parental support for PA had a positive effect on boys' (b=0.319) and girls' (b=0.326) PA. Parental PA was not significantly related to child's perception of parental support for PA. However, parent reported support for PA had a significant, positive effect on child's perception of parental support for boys (b=0.352) and girls (b=0.584). In terms of the indirect effects, the effect of parental PA on child's PA was not statistically significant; however, as expected, parental support for PA had a statistically significant indirect effect on child PA level in both groups. The findings of this study demonstrate the importance of children's perceptions of parental support in relation to their PA behaviours. Developing a better understanding of factors related to children's PA and identifying determinants and mediators of activity behaviours will help inform PA interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Wilk
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road East, London N6C 2V5, Canada; Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada.
| | - Andrew F Clark
- Children's Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road East, London N6C 2V5, Canada; Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada; Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada.
| | - Alana Maltby
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada.
| | - Patricia Tucker
- School of Occupational Therapy, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada.
| | - Jason A Gilliland
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road East, London N6C 2V5, Canada; Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada; Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada; School of Health Studies, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London N6A 3K7, Canada.
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