Children from low-income families have less access to sports facilities, but are no less physically active: cross-sectional study (EarlyBird 35)

Sociodemographic influences on youth sport participation and physical activity among children living within concentrated Hispanic/Latino rural communities

Introduction

Lack of physical activity (PA) among children living in rural communities is a documented public health problem. Although studies have examined community conditions defined by a rural-urban dichotomy, few have investigated rural community conditions with a concentration of Hispanic/Latino people. This cross-sectional study examined sociodemographic characteristics associated with youth sport (YS) participation and daily PA among children living within concentrated Hispanic/Latino rural U.S. Midwest communities.

Methods

During spring 2022, 97% of 3rd-6th grade children (n = 281, aged approximately 8-12 years) attending school in rural Midwestern communities (n = 2) with >50% concentration of Hispanic students participated in the Wellscapes Project, a community randomized trial. Participants completed the Youth Activity Profile and supplemental National Survey of Children's Health questions assessing PA behaviors and YS participation. Caregivers of a subsample of children (n = 215; males, n = 93; females, n = 122) consented to pair their child's survey results with school enrollment records (e.g., free/reduced lunch status and race and ethnicity). Mixed models with community as a random effect examined main and interaction effects of grade, sex, ethnoracial status, and family income on YS participation and these sociodemographic characteristics and YS participation on daily moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA).

Results

Approximately half of children participated in YS. Non-Hispanic White children (n = 82) were over five times more likely to participate in YS than Hispanic peers (n = 133) (OR = 5.54, 95% CI = 2.64-11.61, p < 0.001). YS participants accumulated 8.3 ± 2.3 more minutes of daily MVPA than non-participants (p < 0.001). Sixth graders, females, and Hispanic children reported lower daily MVPA than comparison groups (p < 0.05). Significant interaction effects on daily MVPA between grade and ethnoracial status (F(3, 204) = 3.04, p = 0.030) were also found.

Discussion

Disparities in sport participation and PA outcomes based on sociodemographic characteristics exist among children living in ethnoracially diverse rural communities. Strategies to promote YS participation, including community structural changes, may help reduce PA disparities. The research provides valuable insights for policymakers, public health professionals, and community members to address YS participation barriers, not limited to cost, while considering other PA-promotion efforts to improve child population health.

Small Business Support Is Associated with the Quantity, Quality, and Usage of Youth Physical Activity Opportunities in Urban, Low-Income, African American Neighborhoods

Evidence suggests small businesses could play a significant role in bringing quality youth physical activity opportunities (YPAOs) to urban areas. Knowing more about their involvement with YPAOs in African American neighborhoods would be of significant value given the relatively low PA rates of African American youth. The current study examined associations between small businesses and YPAOs in low-income, African American urban neighborhoods. Surveys were conducted with 46.4% (n = 223) of eligible small business owners/managers and 44.2% (n = 38) of eligible YPAO providers in 20 low-income, African American urban neighborhoods to ascertain business and YPAO characteristics. Audits were conducted at the YPAOs and parks (n = 28) in the study areas to obtain counts of users and data on amenities/incivilities. Analyses included multiple linear regression. Only 33.6% of all businesses were currently supporting YPAOs. The percentage of businesses supporting only local YPAOs (YPAOs near the business) was significantly associated with the number of YPAOs in the area, number of YPAO amenities, youth participants, teams, amenity quality, and the severity of incivilities after controlling for neighborhood demographics. Businesses supporting only local YPAOs were at their location longer, and their owners were more likely to have a sports background, children, and believe small businesses should support YPAOs than business not supporting local YPAOs. This study provides evidence that YPAOs in low-income, African American urban neighborhoods are improved by support from small businesses. Efforts to enhance PA among African American youth living in low-income urban neighborhoods could benefit from involving small businesses.

Differences in Motor Competence of Chilean Schoolchildren According to Biological and Sociocultural Correlates

(1) Background: In this study, we aimed to determine differences in the levels of motor competence according to biological factors (sex, age and weight status) and sociocultural factors (socioeconomic level and belonging to an indigenous people or not) in students of the La Araucanía Region, Chile. (2) Methods: A total of 552 students in 5th and 6th grade were evaluated (49.6% girls; age M = 11.3; SD = 0.8). To assess motor competence (domains of object control and self-movement), the MOBAK 5-6 test was applied. (3) Results: In the object control dimension, significant differences were found according to sex, with the boys performing higher than the girls. According to age, schoolchildren aged 11.0 to 11.9 performed higher than those aged 10.0 to 10.9, and according to socioeconomic status, schoolchildren from schools with a higher socioeconomic status showed a higher motor performance. No significant interaction effects were found between groups. With regard to the self-movement domain, statistically significant differences were only found according to weight status, where students of normal weight presented the highest performance. No significant effects were found between any of the groups. (4) Conclusions: This study shows the importance of considering the biological and sociocultural characteristics in the development of motor competence when interpreting data or planning interventions in different settings.

The association between living environmental factors and adolescents' body weight: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The effect of the living environment on public health has received increasingly scholarly attention. This study aims to explore the relationship between adolescents' body weight and their living environmental factors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study comprised 1362 middle-school students from Nanjing and 826 from Changzhou in China. We further collected information on living environmental factors based on their home address and ran multivariate logistic regressions to explore potential correlations after considering a range of potential confounding factors.

RESULTS

Approximately 25% (n = 303) of students from Nanjing and 26% (n = 205) of students from Changzhou were excessive body weight. In Nanjing, students' BMI (Body Mass Index) showed a strong negative correlation with the number of sports venues in their neighborhood (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 0.64, 95%CI: 0.40-0.94) after controlling for other covariates. In Changzhou, we observed a positive correlation between adolescents' body weight and the number of bus stops in their neighbourhood (AOR:1.63, 95%CI:1.11-2.38).

CONCLUSIONS

The living environment factors were independently associated with teenagers' excessive body weight. We hypothesis that the environmental risk factors might be associated with political management, which will consequently affect personal health outcomes. Further research and proactive measures are required to manage those potential risks and attenuate the problem.

Children of Smoking and Non-Smoking Households' Perceptions of Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Exercise

Previous research has shown secondhand tobacco smoke to be detrimental to children’s health. This qualitative study aimed to explore children from low socioeconomic status (SES) families and their reasons for being physically active, attitudes towards physical activity (PA), fitness and exercise, perceived barriers and facilitators to PA, self-perceptions of fitness and physical ability, and how these differ for children from smoking and non-smoking households. A total of 38 children (9–11 years; 50% female; 42% smoking households) from the deprived areas of North West England participated in focus groups (n = 8), which were analysed by utilizing thematic analysis. The findings support hypothesised mediators of PA in children including self-efficacy, enjoyment, perceived benefit, and social support. Fewer than a quarter of all children were aware of the PA guidelines with varying explanations, while the majority of children perceived their own fitness to be high. Variances also emerged between important barriers (e.g., sedentary behaviour and environmental factors) and facilitators (e.g., psychological factors and PA opportunity) for children from smoking and non-smoking households. This unique study provided a voice to children from low SES and smoking households and these child perspectives could be used to create relevant and effective strategies for interventions to improve PA, fitness, and health.

The home electronic media environment and parental safety concerns: relationships with outdoor time after school and over the weekend among 9-11 year old children

BACKGROUND

Time spent outdoors is associated with higher physical activity levels among children, yet it may be threatened by parental safety concerns and the attraction of indoor sedentary pursuits. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between these factors and outdoor time during children's discretionary periods (i.e., after school and over the weekend).

METHODS

Data from 462 children aged 9-11 years old were analysed using generalised linear mixed models. The odds of spending > 1 h outdoors after school, and > 2 h outdoors on a weekend were computed, according to demographic variables, screen-based behaviours, media access, and parental safety concerns. Interactions with sex and socioeconomic status (SES) were explored.

RESULTS

Boys, low SES participants, and children who played on their computer for < 2 h on a school day had higher odds of spending > 1 h outside after school than girls, high SES children and those playing on a computer for ≥2 h, respectively. Counterintuitive results were found for access to media devices and crime-related safety concerns as both of these were positively associated with time spent outdoors after school. A significant interaction for traffic-related concerns*sex was found; higher road safety concerns were associated with lower odds of outdoor time after school in boys only. Age was associated with weekend outdoor time, which interacted with sex and SES; older children were more likely to spend > 2 h outside on weekends but this was only significant among girls and high SES participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that specific groups of children are less likely to spend their free time outside, and it would seem that only prolonged recreational computer use has a negative association with children's outdoor time after school. Further research is needed to explore potential underlying mechanisms, and parental safety concerns in more detail.

Parents' Perceived Barriers to Accessing Sports and Recreation Facilities in Ontario, Canada: Exploring the Relationships between Income, Neighbourhood Deprivation, and Community

Sports and recreation facilities provide places where children can be physically active. Previous research has shown that availability is often worse in lower-socioeconomic status (SES) areas, yet others have found inverse relationships, no relationships, or mixed findings. Since children's health behaviours are influenced by their parents, it is important to understand parents' perceived barriers to accessing sports and recreation facilities. Data from computer assisted telephone interviews with parents living in Ontario, Canada were merged via postal codes with neighbourhood deprivation data. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the likelihood that parents reported barriers to accessing local sports and recreation facilities. Parents with lower household incomes were more likely to report barriers to access. For each unit increase in deprivation score (i.e., more deprived), the likelihood of reporting a barrier increased 16% (95% CI: 1.04, 1.28). For parents, the relationships between household income, neighbourhood-level deprivation, and barriers are complex. Understanding these relationships is important for research, policy and planning, as parental barriers to opportunities for physical activity have implications for child health behaviours, and ultimately childhood overweight and obesity.

Concussions and Risk Within Cultural Contexts of Play

Concussions are a type of traumatic injury caused by a jolting of the brain that disrupts normal brain function, and multiple concussions can lead to serious long-term health consequences. In this article, we examine the relationship between college students' understanding of concussions and their willingness to continue playing despite the possibility of sustaining multiple head injuries. We use a mixed-methods approach that includes participant observation, cultural domain analysis, and structured interviews. Our research finds that students hold a robust cognitive understanding of concussion yet discursively frame concussions as skeletomuscular injuries. More importantly, students affirm the importance of playing sports for themselves and others, so their decisions to risk multiple concussions must be understood within cultural and biocultural contexts of meaningful social play. We suggest that peoples' decision to risk multiple head injuries should be understood as a desire for meaningful social play rather than an uninformed health risk.

Cross-sectional associations between high-deprivation home and neighbourhood environments, and health-related variables among Liverpool children

OBJECTIVES

(1) To investigate differences in health-related, home and neighbourhood environmental variables between Liverpool children living in areas of high deprivation (HD) and medium-to-high deprivation (MD) and (2) to assess associations between these perceived home and neighbourhood environments and health-related variables stratified by deprivation group.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

10 Liverpool primary schools in 2014.

PARTICIPANTS

194 children aged 9-10 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Health-related variables (self-reported physical activity (PA) (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children, PAQ-C), cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index (BMI) z-scores, waist circumference), home environment variables: (garden/backyard access, independent mobility, screen-based media restrictions, bedroom media) and neighbourhood walkability (Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth, NEWS-Y).

EXPLANATORY MEASURES

Area deprivation.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between HD and MD children's BMI z-scores (p<0.01), waist circumference (p<0.001) and cardiorespiratory fitness (p<0.01). HD children had significantly higher bedroom media availability (p<0.05) and independent mobility scores than MD children (p<0.05). MD children had significantly higher residential density and neighbourhood aesthetics scores, and lower crime safety, pedestrian and road traffic safety scores than HD children, all of which indicated higher walkability (p<0.01). HD children's BMI z-scores (β=-0.29, p<0.01) and waist circumferences (β=-0.27, p<0.01) were inversely associated with neighbourhood aesthetics. HD children's PA was negatively associated with bedroom media (β=-0.24, p<0.01), and MD children's PA was positively associated with independent mobility (β=0.25, p<0.01). MD children's independent mobility was inversely associated with crime safety (β=-0.28, p<0.01) and neighbourhood aesthetics (β=-0.24, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Children living in HD areas had the least favourable health-related variables and were exposed to home and neighbourhood environments that are unconducive to health-promoting behaviours. Less access to bedroom media equipment and greater independent mobility were strongly associated with higher PA in HD and MD children, respectively. Facilitating independent mobility and encouraging outdoor play may act as effective strategies to enhance PA levels and reduce sedentary time in primary school-aged children.

Social inequalities in young children's sports participation and outdoor play

Background

Research on social inequalities in sports participation and unstructured physical activity among young children is scarce. This study aimed to assess the associations of family socioeconomic position (SEP) and ethnic background with children’s sports participation and outdoor play.

Methods

We analyzed data from 4726 ethnically diverse 6-year-old children participating in the Generation R Study. Variables were assessed by parent-reported questionnaires when the child was 6 years old. Low level of outdoor play was defined as outdoor play <1 hour per day. Series of multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations of family SEP and ethnic background with children’s sports participation and outdoor play.

Results

Socioeconomic inequalities in children’s sports participation were found when using maternal educational level (p < 0.05), paternal educational level (p < 0.05), maternal employment status (p < 0.05), and household income (p < 0.05) as family SEP indicator (less sports participation among low SEP children). Socioeconomic inequalities in children’s outdoor play were found when using household income only (p < 0.05) (more often outdoor play <1 hour per day among children from low income household). All ethnic minority children were significantly more likely to not to participate in sports and play outdoor <1 hour per day compared with native Dutch children. Adjustment for family SEP attenuated associations considerably, especially with respect to sports participation.

Conclusion

Low SEP children and ethnic minority children are more likely not to participate in sports and more likely to display low levels of outdoor play compared with high SEP children and native Dutch children, respectively. In order to design effective interventions, further research, including qualitative studies, is needed to explore more in detail the pathways relating family SEP and ethnic background to children’s sports participation and outdoor play.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12966-014-0155-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Physical activity in the prevention of childhood obesity

The current high prevalence of childhood obesity and its co-morbidities is concomitant with a low level of physical activity and an abundance of sedentary pastimes for Westernised children. To increase the participation of a majority of children in a sustained physical activity, interventions require a fair understanding and consideration of the influences of this behaviour, especially as children are overweight or obese. Basically, the physical activity behaviour of children depends on biological, sociocultural and psychosocial factors and their interplay. The recent literature lends support to the fact that some psychosocial factors such as self-efficacy and physical competence may be solid anchor points upon which to improve the participation of overweight and obese children in free-living physical activity. Thus, interventionists should first concentrate on improving these personal dimensions around which physiological and environmental factors might revolve. The development of motor skills may be a good means for enhancing the self-image of obese children.

Integrating risks for type 2 diabetes across childhood: a life course perspective

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) emerged among children, due in large measure to a strong physiological link between increased weight states and T2DM. In this article, cumulative risk factors for T2DM across childhood and its underlying mechanisms are reviewed. The points of intervention for T2DM should occur throughout childhood. The use of Halfon and Hochstein's framework enables practitioners and researchers in the nursing field to better understand a child's individual risk for T2DM. Only with this long view will prevention and interventions be successful in stemming the tide of the "twin epidemic" threatening children worldwide.

A biopsychosocial process model of health and complaints in children and adolescents

The purpose of the study was to test a biopsychosocial process model based on theoretically and empirically supported factors previously found to influence health and complaints in children and adolescents. Participants (N = 823) of the ages of nine, 14 or 18 were administered parts of the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Questionnaire and a physical activity questionnaire. They subsequently underwent physical fitness tests and a medical examination. For complaints, direct and indirect influences over four levels (socioeconomic status, physical activity of relatives and peers, physical activity and physical fitness) were shown, but the findings did not hold for health. The interpretation of expected and unexpected results is discussed.

Parental influences on child physical activity and screen viewing time: a population based study

Background

Parents can influence their children's physical activity participation and screen time.This study examined the relative significance of perceived parental barriers and self-efficacy in relation to children's physical activity participation and screen time viewing. The associations between these factors and the behaviours were analysed.

Methods

Cross-sectional population survey in New South Wales, Australia of parents of pre-school (N = 764), younger (Kindergarten, Grades 2 and 4; N = 1557) and older children (Grades 6, 8 and 10; N = 1665). Parents reported barriers and self-efficacy to influence their child's physical activity and screen time behaviours in a range of circumstances. Differences were examined by child's sex and age group, household income, maternal education and location of residence. The duration of physical activity and screen viewing was measured by parental report for pre-school and younger children and self-report for older children. Associations between parental factors and children's organised, non-organised and total activity and screen time were analysed.

Results

Cost, lack of opportunities for participation and transport problems were the barriers most often reported, particularly by low income parents and those in rural areas. The number of barriers was inversely related to children's time spent in organised activity, but not their non-organised activity. Higher parental self-efficacy was positively associated with organised physical activity in the younger and older children's groups and the non-organised activity of older children. School-age children (younger and older groups) were less likely to meet physical activity guidelines when parents reported ≥4 barriers (OR 3.76, 95% CI 1.25-11.34 and OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.71-8.11 respectively). Low parental self-efficacy was also associated with the likelihood of children exceeding screen time guidelines for each age group (pre-school OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43-0.87; young children OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.39-0.80; and older children OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.43-0.74).

Conclusion

Parental barriers are associated with the time that children spend in both active and sedentary pursuits. These findings highlight family, economic and environmental factors that should be addressed in programs to promote child physical activity and tackle sedentary behaviour.