The Dynamic Family Home: a qualitative exploration of physical environmental influences on children’s sedentary behaviour and physical activity within the home space

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Michael Rosenberg³  Rebecca Braham³  Sarah Foster²  Gareth Stratton¹  Clover Maitland³ 

[1] Applied Sports Technology Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;Centre for Built Environment and Health, School of Earth & Environment and School of Sports Science, Exercise & Health, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, WA, Australia;School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, WA, Australia

关键词: Home space;    Ecological model;    Qualitative;    Family interview;    Housing;    Environment;    Children;    Physical activity;    Sedentary behaviour;   

Others  :  1146169
DOI  :  10.1186/s12966-014-0157-1

 received in 2014-04-24, accepted in 2014-12-09,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Recent changes in home physical environments, such as decreasing outdoor space and increasing electronic media, may negatively affect health by facilitating sedentariness and reducing physical activity. As children spend much of their time at home they are particularly vulnerable. This study qualitatively explored family perceptions of physical environmental influences on sedentary behaviour and physical activity within the home space.

Methods

Home based interviews were conducted with 28 families with children aged 9–13 years (total n = 74 individuals), living in Perth, Australia. Families were stratified by socioeconomic status and selected to provide variation in housing. Qualitative methods included a family interview, observation and home tour where families guided the researcher through their home, enabling discussion while in the physical home space. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.

Results

Emergent themes related to children’s sedentariness and physical activity included overall size, space and design of the home; allocation of home space; equipment within the home space; perceived safety of the home space; and the changing nature of the home space. Families reported that children’s activity options were limited when houses and yards were small. In larger homes, multiple indoor living rooms usually housed additional sedentary entertainment options, although parents reported that open plan home layouts could facilitate monitoring of children’s electronic media use. Most families reported changing the allocation and contents of their home space in response to changing priorities and circumstances.

Conclusions

The physical home environment can enhance or limit opportunities for children’s sedentary behaviour and physical activity. However, the home space is a dynamic ecological setting that is amenable to change and is largely shaped by the family living within it, thus differentiating it from other settings. While size and space were considered important, how families prioritise the use of their home space and overcome the challenges posed by the physical environment may be of equal or greater importance in establishing supportive home environments. Further research is required to tease out how physical, social and individual factors interact within the family home space to influence children’s sedentary behaviour and physical activity at home.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Maitland et al.; licensee BioMed Central.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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