Parental and peer support and modelling in relation to domain-specific physical activity participation in boys and girls from Germany

Background Physical activity (PA) as a precondition of child development is related with social environmental correlates. However, domain-specific PA and gender issues have been neglected in studies on social support and modelling and PA in school-aged children. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships of parental and peer modelling and social support with domain-specific PA participation in a large sample of school-aged children, taking gender into account. Methods 3,505 school children aged 6 to 17 years old participated in the German nationwide ‘MoMo’ cohort-study. By using the MoMo-PAQ the participants and their parents provided self-report data on perceived social support and social modelling and domain-specific PA participation. Relationships of social environmental variables and the physical outcomes were analysed by logistic regression analyses. Results At secondary school level, girls were less likely than boys to participate in physical activity in and outside of sports clubs, extra-curricular physical activity and in outdoor play (p < 0.05), but at primary school level this pattern only applied to club sport (p < 0.01). Girls also received less social support than boys (p < 0.01). Physical activity participation in all domains was associated with any of the social support and modelling variables and differences between physical activity domains and between boys and girls occurred. Most consistently physical activity in sports clubs was related with the social environmental correlates in boys (primary school: R2 = 0.60; secondary school: R2 = 0.45) and girls (primary school: R2 = 0.53; secondary school: R2 = 0.47). Conclusions In future, reciprocal relationships of social environmental variables and PA should be considered in longitudinal studies to obtain insights into the direction of the associations. Furthermore, interventions encompassing the social environment and focussed particularly on the promotion of domain-specific PA in girls in secondary school-age are warranted

Social Support and Modelling in Relation to Physical Activity Participation and Outdoor Play in Preschool Children

Physical activity during early childhood is a prerequisite for healthy development in many cases. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships of social modelling and support from parents, peers, and siblings and domain-specific physical activity participation in a nationwide sample of preschool boys and girls from Germany. 519 preschool children aged 4–6 and one of their parents participated in the ‘MoMo’ Wave 1 Study between 2009 and 2012. Participants and their parents provided self-reported data on social support modelling, and domain-specific physical activity participation (physical activity in sports clubs, physical activity outside of sports clubs, and outdoor play). Parental, peer, and sibling support and modelling were related to domain-specific physical activity: Parental support was particularly relevant for physical activity in sports clubs, and peer support for outdoor play. Parental modelling was only related to physical activity outside of sports clubs: Maternal modelling was a positive correlate in girls and paternal modelling in boys, respectively. Sibling and peer modelling were especially relevant for physical activity in sports clubs. The results were heterogeneous regarding types and providers of support and modelling. Thus, different providers and types of support should be targeted in physical activity promotion programs for preschool children

Motivation and active travel in adolescent girls and boys in Germany – Findings from the ARRIVE study

Active travel (using an active mode of transport such as walking or cycling) contributes to the accumulation of daily physical activity and thus holds potential for promoting health. To promote active travel among adolescents an in-depth understanding of determinants from a sex/gender perspective is needed. Within Self-Determination Theory (SDT), it is proposed that the quality of an individuals’ motivation (i.e., the degree to which it is autonomous) determines the extent to which they engage in particular behaviors and perform them effectively. As part of the ARRIVE study, the aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between motivation and active travel in adolescent boys (N = 263, Mage = 12.92) and girls (N = 254, Mage = 13.21) from a nationwide German sample. Results showed significant group differences between male and female adolescents in the proportion of trips traveled actively, intrinsic motivation and amotivation. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated different relationships of the different types of motivation proposed within SDT on active travel behavior depending on sex/gender. In the total sample, integrated and identified regulation increased the odds of active travel (by 15.8 %, and 20.3 % respectively), whereas amotivation decreased the odds by 23.0 %. Intrinsic motivation and controlled forms of extrinsic motivation (i.e. introjected and external regulation) did not significantly change the odds of active travel. Separate sex/gender-specific analyses were conducted. For boys, only identified regulation significantly increased the odds of active travel (by 40.2 %) and amotivation significantly decreased the odds (by 18.8 %). In girls, integrated (by 25.3 %) and external (by 20.3 %) regulation significantly increased the odds of active travel, while amotivation (26.6 %) significantly decreased the odds. We conclude that disparities exist in the relationship among different regulation types with active travel behavior between adolescent boys and girls, and that findings contradictory to SDT might result from the specific context of traveling to a destination. Considering the regression analyses findings, future interventions to promote active travel among adolescents should incorporate sex/gender-sensitive development, because some behavioral regulations might not be equally effective among girls and boys

Aktiv zur Schule : Zur Bedeutung von aktiven Schulwegen bei Kindern im Grundschulalter in Deutschland

Background In Germany and other industrial countries, many children are not physically active enough and suffer increasingly from secondary diseases caused by a lack of activity. Active commuting to school is a relevant domain of physical activity and presents an important starting point for interventions to promote physical activity in primary school-age. Objective The article provides an overview of current research on active commuting to school in primary school children and focuses on the relevance of the phenomenon from the perspective of health research in Germany. Methods The presentation of the state of research is based on a narrative review that includes national and international literature which has been identified by a literature search and has been summarized. Measurement methods, prevalence and historical trends, findings on health effects and influencing factors as well as intervention programmes to increase active commuting to school at primary school-age are discussed. Results Recent studies showed, that between 47% and 81% of primary school children in Germany actively commute to school. Active commuting is positively associated with both numerous health parameters and the level of overall physical activity. In particular, the distance to school and social factors, such as parental support and safety concerns, are associated with the extent of active commuting to school. Some practically orientated publications on interventions to promote active commuting at German primary schools (such as “walking school bus” programs) are available, but have hardly been scientifically evaluated. Conclusion In order to promote physical activity at primary school-age, interventions to promote active commuting to school should be developed and scientifically evaluated.Zusammenfassung Hintergrund In Deutschland und anderen Industrienationen bewegen sich viele Kinder nicht ausreichend und leiden zunehmend an Folgeerkrankungen des Bewegungsmangels. Aktive Schulwege sind ein relevantes Setting der körperlichen Aktivität und stellen einen wichtigen Ansatzpunkt für Interventionen zur Bewegungsförderung im Grundschulalter dar. Ziel des Beitrags Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über den Stand der Forschung zu aktiven Schulwegen von Grundschulkindern. Der Fokus liegt hierbei auf der Relevanz dieses Phänomens aus Perspektive der Gesundheitsforschung in Deutschland. Methoden Die Vorstellung des Forschungsstands erfolgt als narrativer Review, der nationale und internationale Studien, die mittels Literaturrecherche identifiziert und zusammengefasst wurden, einschließt. Es werden die Erfassungsmethoden, Prävalenzen und historischen Trends, Befunde über Gesundheitseffekte und Einflussfaktoren von aktiver Mobilität sowie Interventionsprogramme zur Steigerung aktiver Schulwege thematisiert. Ergebnisse Aktuelle Studien berichten, dass zwischen 47% und 81% der Grundschulkinder in Deutschland aktiv den Schulweg zurücklegen. Aktive Schulwege sind sowohl mit einigen Gesundheitsparametern als auch mit dem Gesamtumfang der körperlichen Aktivität positiv korreliert. Insbesondere die Distanz zur Schule und soziale Faktoren, wie das elterliche Unterstützungsverhalten und Sicherheitsbedenken, sind mit aktiven Schulwegen assoziiert. Es liegen praxisorientierte Publikationen zu Interventionsansätzen zur Förderung aktiver Schulwege an deutschen Grundschulen (wie z. B. „Walking-school-bus-Maßnahmen“) vor, die jedoch kaum wissenschaftlich evaluiert wurden. Schlussfolgerung Zur Bewegungsförderung im Grundschulalter sollten Maßnahmen zur Förderung aktiver Schulwege entwickeln und wissenschaftlich evaluiert werden

Determination of cut-off points for the Move4 accelerometer in children aged 8–13 years

Abstract Background To assess physical activity (PA) there is a need of objective, valid and reliable measurement methods like accelerometers. Before these devices can be used for research, they need to be calibrated and validated for specific age groups as the locomotion differs between children and adults, for instance. Therefore, the aim of the present study was the calibration and validation of the Move4 accelerometer for children aged 8–13 years. Methods 53 normal weighted children (52% boys, 48%girls) aged 8–13 years (mean age = 10.69 ± 1.46, mean BMI = 17.93 kg/m− 2, 60th percentile), wore the Move4 sensor at four different body positions (thigh, hip, wrist and the Move4ecg including heart rate measurement at the chest). They completed nine activities that considered the four activity levels (sedentary behavior (SB), light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA) and vigorous PA (VPA)) within a test-retest design. Intensity values were determined using the mean amplitude deviation (MAD) as well as the movement acceleration intensity (MAI) metrics. Determination of activities and energy expenditure was validated using heart rate. After that, cut-off points were determined in Matlab by using the Classification and Regression Trees (CART) method. The agreement for the cut-off points between T1 and T2 was analyzed. Results MAD and MAI accelerometer values were lowest when children were lying on the floor and highest when running or doing jumping jacks. The mean correlation coefficient between acceleration values and heart rate was 0.595 (p = 0.01) for MAD metric and 0.611 (p = 0.01) for MAI metric, indicating strong correlations. Further, the MAD cut-off points for SB-LPA are 52.9 mg (hip), 62.4 mg (thigh), 86.4 mg (wrist) and 45.9 mg (chest), for LPA-MPA they are 173.3 mg (hip), 260.7 mg (thigh), 194.4 mg (wrist) and 155.7 mg (chest) and for MPA-VPA the cut-off points are 543.6 mg (hip), 674.5 mg (thigh), 623.4 mg (wrist) and 545.5 mg (chest). Test-retest comparison indicated good values (mean differences = 9.8%). Conclusion This is the first study investigating cut-off points for children for four different sensor positions using raw accelerometer metrics (MAD/MAI). Sensitivity and specificity revealed good values for all positions. Nevertheless, depending on the sensor position, metric values differ according to the different involvement of the body in various activities. Thus, the sensor position should be carefully chosen depending on the research question of the study. </jats:sec

Parental perspectives on the decision-making process on transport mode choice in adolescents: a qualitative study with mothers and fathers

Objective: The present study aims to understand the familial decision-making process on transport mode choice in adolescents with a focus on the parental perspective within this process. Background: Active travel contributes to adolescents’ overall physical activity and its positive health effects. Based on the social-learning theory, especially parents are assigned a central role for adolescents’ travel behavior. The aim of the present study was to examine how parents are involved in the decision-making process on transport mode choice in adolescents. Method: The study is part of the cross-sectional mixed-methods ARRIVE study which includes semi-structured interviews with mothers (n = 12) and fathers (n = 7) of 11- to 14-year-old German adolescents. The interviews focused on travel behavior in adolescents and the decision-making process on transport mode choice from the parental perspective. All interviews were analyzed inductively using Thematic Analysis. Results: Our study revealed that parents do not primarily decide for or against active travel in adolescents, but are mostly involved in the decision-making process, especially in case of a deviation from the main transport mode. Different forms of parental involvement in the decision-making process were identified. Some parents acted as main decision makers which is the highest form of involvement while others gave their children complete freedom of choose a transport mode for themselves. These parents accepted their child’s choice fully which shows a low involvement in the decision-making process. Conclusion: The results provide a deeper understanding of the familial decision-making process on travel behavior in adolescents. The results indicate an occasionally parental involvement in the decision-making process on the mainly used transport mode by adolescents, and that mothers and fathers are always involved when deviating from the main mode. Implications: Further research should investigate changes in travel behavior from childhood to young adulthood to understand long-term travel decisions in families. Due to the findings that parents are often involved in the decision-making process on transport mode choice and that they mainly reported safety concerns as barriers to their children’s active travel, further research should focus especially on the social and physical environment of adolescents

Parental perspectives on the decision-making process on transport mode choice in adolescents: a qualitative study with mothers and fathers

ObjectiveThe present study aims to understand the familial decision-making process on transport mode choice in adolescents with a focus on the parental perspective within this process.BackgroundActive travel contributes to adolescents’ overall physical activity and its positive health effects. Based on the social-learning theory, especially parents are assigned a central role for adolescents’ travel behavior. The aim of the present study was to examine how parents are involved in the decision-making process on transport mode choice in adolescents.MethodThe study is part of the cross-sectional mixed-methods ARRIVE study which includes semi-structured interviews with mothers (n = 12) and fathers (n = 7) of 11- to 14-year-old German adolescents. The interviews focused on travel behavior in adolescents and the decision-making process on transport mode choice from the parental perspective. All interviews were analyzed inductively using Thematic Analysis.ResultsOur study revealed that parents do not primarily decide for or against active travel in adolescents, but are mostly involved in the decision-making process, especially in case of a deviation from the main transport mode. Different forms of parental involvement in the decision-making process were identified. Some parents acted as main decision makers which is the highest form of involvement while others gave their children complete freedom of choose a transport mode for themselves. These parents accepted their child’s choice fully which shows a low involvement in the decision-making process.ConclusionThe results provide a deeper understanding of the familial decision-making process on travel behavior in adolescents. The results indicate an occasionally parental involvement in the decision-making process on the mainly used transport mode by adolescents, and that mothers and fathers are always involved when deviating from the main mode.ImplicationsFurther research should investigate changes in travel behavior from childhood to young adulthood to understand long-term travel decisions in families. Due to the findings that parents are often involved in the decision-making process on transport mode choice and that they mainly reported safety concerns as barriers to their children’s active travel, further research should focus especially on the social and physical environment of adolescents

Interventions Aiming to Promote Active Commuting in Children and Adolescents: An Evaluation From a Sex/Gender Perspective

Active commuting (AC) provides numerous health benefits and is one way to improve physical activity in children and adolescents. Boys are more likely to use active transport modes than girls. Girls and boys benefit differently from interventions that promote AC. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effects of interventions on girls and boys and to appraise the extent to which previous studies have taken sex/gender into account. Eleven electronic databases were searched to identify all relevant randomized and non-randomized controlled trials based on a priori defined eligibility criteria. Two independent reviewers screened the literature for eligibility and assessed risk of bias. Semiquantitative analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of intervention effects by taking sex/gender aspects into account. To evaluate sex/gender considerations in interventional studies, a recently developed sex/gender checklist was applied. Twelve studies were included that examined intervention effects on AC in girls and boys. Three intervention studies showed significant effects in increasing AC, with one study favoring girls, one favoring boys, and another focusing on a single sex/gender (only girls). According to the checklist, the overall sex/gender rating highlighted a lack of information in sex/gender consideration. Studies with and without significant effects indicated no differences in the sex/gender checklist. The results indicate that sex/gender is not considered adequately in primary interventional research on AC. To evaluate the effectiveness of intervention in boys and girls, detailed analyses of sex/gender are required, and better reporting about sex/gender-specific intervention content is necessary. In future health research to promote AC, sex/gender should be systematically taken into account

Associations of parents’ and adolescents’ active travel behavior across various destinations – a sex/gender analysis

Abstract Background Active travel behavior such as walking and cycling is associated with several health benefits. Especially the family environment seems to be important for active travel in children and adolescents. Currently, little is known regarding travel behavior in leisure time and associations of travel behavior within parent-adolescent dyads. Methods The present analysis is based on the German ARRIVE study (Active tRavel behavioR in the famIly enVironmEnt), which incorporated a large scale, representative cross-sectional online survey including 517 parent–child dyads consisting of adolescents (N = 517; boys = 263, girls = 254) aged 11–15 years and one of their parents (N = 517; fathers = 259, mothers = 258). Based on that survey which took place in June 2021 (during the COVID-19 pandemic), we calculated the prevalence of active travel to four commonly visited destinations (school/work, friends/relatives, shopping stores and recreational activities) using an adapted version of the travel to school questionnaire by Segura-Diaz JM, Rojas-Jimenez A, Barranco-Ruiz Y, Murillo-Pardo B, Saucedo-Araujo RG, Aranda-Balboa MJ, et al. (Int J Environ Res Public Health 17(14), 2020). In addition, we investigated the associations between parents’ and adolescents’ travel behavior using scores for school/work, leisure time (friends/relatives, shopping stores and recreational activities) and overall (school/work and leisure time). Results Across all destinations, prevalence of active travel in adolescents (63.08%) was higher than in parents (29.21%). Active travel to school (47.33%) as well as to work (20.43%) indicated the lowest prevalence. Linear regression models revealed significant associations in overall active travel between mothers and adolescents (girls: β = 0.308, p &lt; 0.001; boys: β = 0.302, p = 0.001) and in leisure time active travel behavior between mothers and daughters (β = 0.316, p &lt; 0.001). Related to school/work active travel there were no associations between parents and adolescents. Conclusion The associations between adolescents’ and parents’ travel behavior differ depending on gender: they are solely seen in mother-adolescents dyads. Furthermore, our findings conclude that travel is a routine and independent of the destination. </jats:sec

Active travel behaviour in the family environment: protocol for the mixed-methods cross-sectional ARRIVE study

IntroductionActive travel is an important source of physical activity and a primary contributor to overall health among adolescents. To understand and promote active travel behaviour in adolescents, developing a more robust understanding of the predictors of active travel and its associated decision-making processes is needed. Situated within a theoretical socioecological framework for adolescent travel behaviour, the mixed-methods Active tRavel behavioR in the famIly enVironmEnt study aims to quantitatively assess the influence of several predictors of adolescent travel behaviour, and to qualitatively understand the associated decision-making processes of both adolescents and parents.Methods and analysisOur mixed-methods approach will feature online surveys and semistructured interviews. The online questionnaire, developed in accordance with a theoretical framework of adolescent active travel, will examine adolescent travel behaviour with respect to four different destinations while controlling for multiple relevant individual, social and physical environment factors. To enable the comparison of adolescent and parental perspectives, the questionnaire will be answered by a representative sample of German adolescents (11–15 years old) and their parents.Our semistructured interviews, likewise framed based on the central tenets of the theoretical framework of adolescent active travel, will seek to explore the decision-making process of families regarding travel mode choice via conducting interviews with each member (ie, father, mother, adolescent). To investigate travel decision-making processes, adolescents and their parents will be invited to talk about trips they undertook using both active and passive transport modes during the last week. Thematic analyses will be conducted to highlight the central concerns, priorities and values of participants’ decision-making processes.Ethics and disseminationThis study has received ethical approval from the ethics commission of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg. Study results will be disseminated at scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, study findings will be made publicly available to relevant health, policy, and research stakeholders and groups