Are Family Physical Activity Habits Passed on to Their Children?

Development and validation of the Chinese family environment influencing physical activity habits scale

Introduction

Adolescence represents a pivotal stage in the development of healthy behaviors, where establishing positive physical activity habits can have enduring effects on an individual's overall wellbeing. The ecological model highlights the influence of environmental factors on human behavior, with the family environment playing a significant role in shaping the physical activity habits of adolescents.

Methods

The aim of this scale is to develop a reliable and effective tool, customized for the unique societal context of China, to assess how family factors influence the physical activity habits of Chinese adolescents. Participants were recruited through stratified cluster sampling from 24 secondary schools in six Chinese provinces between October and November 2021, resulting in 1,061 participants. Analysis was conducted on 1,004 valid questionnaires, divided into two samples. Sample 1, consisting of 502 students (248 males and 254 females; Mage = 15.5), underwent item analysis and exploratory factor analysis. Sample 2, comprising 502 students (267 males and 235 females; Mage = 16.5), underwent confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency reliability analysis.

Results

Through exploratory factor analysis, we extracted three factors comprising 15 items: "Family Environment Construction" (4 items), "Family Action Support" (6 items), and "Family Health Awareness" (5 items). The Cronbach's alpha values for these factors ranged from 0.890 to 0.894. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a satisfactory model fit (CMIN/DF = 1.45, SRMR = 0.027, GFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.989, RMSEA = 0.03).

Discussion

The scale demonstrated strong internal consistency and test-retest reliability, confirming its effectiveness in empirical research. This study holds significant implications for enhancing the physical activity levels of adolescents, promoting their physical and mental wellbeing, enriching their developmental experiences, and contributing to their overall sense of happiness.

Challenges of social change: The 2021 Republic of Slovenia report card on physical activity of children and adolescents

Background

Slovenian children are facing considerable health challenges from the rapid social changes that influence their opportunity to engage in daily physical activity.

Objective

To overlay the social changes to the established Report Card model as a means of contextualising the extreme changes in physical activity and fitness observed over several years.

Methods

Benchmarks were graded for 10 core indicators, plus two (Sleep, Seasonal Variations). Active Healthy Kids Slovenia members met (predominantly via zoom) liaising with team leader(s) on a flexible, individual basis, based on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) regulations, over the ∼2-year assessment period of the project. Data were separated to the years prior to, 'pre' 2018-2020, and 'during' the global pandemic (2020-2021). Where sufficient data existed for both timeframes, grades were averaged to produce an overall grade.

Results

Grade results are expressed as pre/during/final grade, where the final grade (bolded) is a straight average of the two preceding time epochs: Overall Physical Activity (A-/A-/A-), Organized Sport and Physical Activity (C+/C/C), Active Play (D/C+/C), Active Transport (C/INC/C), Sedentary Behaviour (B/C/C+), Physical Fitness (A+/A-/A), Family and Peers (B+/INC/B+), Schools (A/A/A), Community and Environment (A+/A+/A+), Government (A/F/D), Sleep (D-/INC/D-), Seasonal Variations (D/C-/D+).

Conclusion

Although Slovenia has some of the most consistently physically-active children in the world, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic exerted significant reductions in physical activity opportunities, and especially when coupled with funding re-distributions, resulted in the steepest decline of child physical fitness observed within the >35-year history of Slovenia's well-established national fitness surveillance system.

Performance of Different Accelerometry-Based Metrics to Estimate Oxygen Consumption during Track and Treadmill Locomotion over a Wide Intensity Range

Accelerometer data can be used to estimate incident oxygen consumption (VO₂) during physical activity. Relationships between the accelerometer metrics and VO₂ are typically determined using specific walking or running protocols on a track or treadmill. In this study, we compared the predictive performance of three different metrics based on the mean amplitude deviation (MAD) of the raw three-dimensional acceleration signal during maximal tests performed on a track or treadmill. A total of 53 healthy adult volunteers participated in the study, 29 performed the track test and 24 the treadmill test. During the tests, the data were collected using hip-worn triaxial accelerometers and metabolic gas analyzers. Data from both tests were pooled for primary statistical analysis. For typical walking speeds at VO₂ less than 25 mL/kg/min, accelerometer metrics accounted for 71-86% of the variation in VO₂. For typical running speeds starting from VO₂ of 25 mL/kg/min up to over 60 mL/kg/min, 32-69% of the variation in VO₂ could be explained, while the test type had an independent effect on the results, except for the conventional MAD metrics. The MAD metric is the best predictor of VO₂ during walking, but the poorest during running. Depending on the intensity of locomotion, the choice of proper accelerometer metrics and test type may affect the validity of the prediction of incident VO₂.

Clustering of Activity-Related Behaviors in Relation to Self-Reported Causes of Stress among Pre-Adolescents: Results from a National Epidemiological Study

An epidemiological study was conducted among 1728 10–12-year-old students (55.1% girls) and their parents during 2014–2016 in Greece. This study aimed to identify the dominant clusters of physical activity/sedentariness among preadolescents and investigate their association with self-reported sources of stress. Children’s physical activity levels and sources of stress were evaluated using validated questionnaires that assessed daily hours of activities, both on weekdays and on weekends, including physical activity, screen-based sedentary time, and non-screen-based sedentary time. The k-means algorithm of cluster analysis was applied. Three clusters of children’s physical activity/sedentariness were revealed. Cluster 1 was characterized as “Inactive-Non sedentary”, cluster 2 as “Active –Non-screen sedentary”, and cluster 3 as “Inactive-Sedentary”. Parental needs/expectations were associated with physical activity patterns (p = 0.009), i.e., children assigned to the third and second clusters had 36% and 51% lower odds to be stressed due to parental requirements [(OR for cluster 3 = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.41–0.99), (OR for cluster 2 = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.32–0.76)], compared with their first-cluster counterparts. Considering the need to promote physical activity in early life stages, the identification of these complex activity-related patterns along with their significant interaction with parental expectations as a cause of stress could enhance the effectiveness of targeted behavior change interventions among those parent–child dyads most in need.

Maternal family history of urolithiasis is associated with earlier age of onset of stone disease

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of detailed family history on the severity of disease and age of onset in patients with urolithiasis.

METHODS

Prospectively collected data from a single institution between October 2015 and December 2020 were analyzed. Our primary endpoint was the number of patients experiencing at least one recurrent stone during the follow-up period.

RESULTS

Of 1566 patients analyzed, 603 (39%) reported at least one family member with a history of stones. The percentage of patients experiencing at least one recurrent stone event was higher in patients with a family history of stones (38%) compared to those without a family history of stones (28%) over a median follow-up period of 8 months (p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, the presence of any family history of urolithiasis increased risk of recurrent stone events (odds ratio [OR] 1.62, p < 0.001). The presence of both a first- and a second-degree relative with urolithiasis was associated with higher odds for a recurrent stone event (OR 2.17; p = 0.003) and a younger age of onset for stones, (OR 3.32; < 0.001). A maternal-side relative with stones conferred a higher odds ratio for younger age of first onset of stones (OR 2.93; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Any family history of kidney stone disease imparts an increased risk of recurrent stone event and an earlier age of onset for urolithiasis. The presence of both first- and second-degree relatives or a maternal-side relative with kidney stones may be a predictor for an earlier age of onset for urolithiasis.

The art of forming habits: applying habit theory in changing physical activity behaviour

Background

Habits are obtained as a consequence of cue-contingent behavioural repetition. Context cues stimulate strong habits without an individual contemplating that action has been initiated. Because of its health-enhancing effects, making physical activity a part of one’s life is essential. This study examined the associations of physical activity (PA) behaviours with PA habits and the role of autonomous motivation in developing PA habits.

Methods

This study used a cross-sectional design. A structured questionnaire was implemented through emails to 226 university students, where PA levels, habits and autonomous motivation were self-reported.

Results

Binary logistic regression identified age groups, gender and participants who were trying to lose weight as the significant predictors in meeting physical activity guidelines. Path analysis showed that moderate-intensity physical activity (β = 0.045, CI = 0.069–0.248) and strength training exercises (β = 0.133, CI = 0.148–0.674) were significantly associated with PA habits (p < 0.01). Autonomous motivation was directly associated with PA habits (β = 0.062, CI = [0.295–0.541], p < 0.01) and was also significantly related to moderate-intensity physical activity (β = 0.243, CI = [0.078–0.266], p < 0.01) and strength training exercises (β = 0.202, CI = [0.033–0.594], p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The emphasis on experiment-based logic and interest in habit formation in the research community is extensive. As the college years offer an excellent opportunity to establish healthy behavioural interventions, encouraging students in regular PA and exhibiting an autonomous motivation towards PA may be necessary.

Do Fitter Children Better Assess Their Physical Activity with Questionnaire Than Less Fit Children?

Most physical activity (PA) questionnaires assess moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) describing the physical exertion of individuals that might be influenced by their physical fitness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether fitter children could better assess their PA with the questionnaire than less fit children. The cross-sectional validation study was conducted with 108 children (60 girls) aged 11 to 14 years, who were divided into three fitness groups based on the results of the 600 m running test. To answer the research question, the agreement between their assessment of PA using the SHAPES questionnaire and the UKK RM42 accelerometer data was analysed. One quarter of the participants achieved at least 60 min of MVPA each day, measured by accelerometer. The average MVPA obtained was 97.8 ± 35.6 min per day, with the high fitness group having a significantly higher value compared with the other groups. Moderate to high validity coefficients were found in the high fitness group (Spearman’s ρ range 0.34–0.70). In contrast, the lower fitness groups had poor to moderate validity for all variables (Spearman’s ρ range 0.03–0.42). These results suggest that the fittest children self-assess their PA with the questionnaire better than less fit children, which may advance new directions for the development and evaluation of PA questionnaires and their usability.