Social and family factors as determinants of exercise habits in Japanese elementary school children: a cross-sectional study from the Super Shokuiku School Project

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine

Yugo Fukazawa¹  Yusuke Hiraku²  Michikazu Sekine³  Masaaki Yamada³  Satomi Sawa⁴ 

[1] Department of Brain Structure and Function, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuoka-Shimoaizuki, Eiheiji, Yoshida, 910-1193, Fukui, Japan;Department of Environmental Health, University of Fukui School of Medical Sciences, 23-3 Matsuoka-Shimoaizuki, Eiheiji, Yoshida, 910-1193, Fukui, Japan;Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, 930-0194, Toyama, Japan;School of Human Development, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, 930-8555, Toyama, Japan;

关键词: Elementary school children;    Physical activity;    Parental lifestyle;    Social background;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12199-020-00892-3

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMany studies have already reported on the relationship between exercise habits and health among schoolchildren. However, few have examined social and/or family factors as determinants of exercise habits.MethodsThis study’s participants included 1721 schoolchildren aged between 6 and 13 who were involved in the Super Shokuiku School Project in January 2016. A survey was conducted to assess gender, grade level, physical activity, lifestyle, overall health, enrichment of school life, social background, and parental lifestyles. Both dislike and lack of physical activity were used to measure poor exercise habits; correlates were analyzed using logistic regression.Results“Lack of close friends” had the strongest links with both dislike (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 5.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.78–10.1) and lack of (adjusted OR 5.40; 95% CI, 2.81–10.4) physical activity. Further, children who engaged in long periods of screen time and lacked parental communication also tended to dislike and lack physical activity. Children with mothers who were unemployed (housewives) and had unhealthy lifestyles, as well as those with poor health, were also more likely to lack physical activity.ConclusionSocial and family factors (e.g., having close friends) may be determinants of exercise habits among schoolchildren, independent of their own lifestyle factors. Although a longitudinal study is needed to determine causality, substantial attention may thus be required to these factors when promoting physical activity in children.

【 授权许可】

CC BY