Family Ecological Predictors of Physical Activity Parenting in Low-Income Families

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) parenting, or strategies parents use to promote PA in children, has been associated with increased PA in children of all ages, including preschool-aged children. However, little is known about the circumstances under which parents adopt such behaviors. This study examined family ecological factors associated with PA parenting. Low-income parents (N = 145) of preschool-aged children (aged 2 to 5 years) were recruited from five Head Start centers in upstate New York. Guided by the family ecological model (FEM), parents completed surveys assessing PA parenting and relevant family and community factors. Hierarchical regression analysis identified independent predictors of PA parenting. Parent depressive symptoms, life pressures that interfere with PA and perceived empowerment to access PA resources were associated with PA parenting. Community factors, including neighborhood play safety and social capital, were not independently associated with PA parenting in the multivariate model. Together, family ecological factors accounted for a large proportion of the variance in PA parenting (R ² = .37). Findings highlight the need to look beyond cognitive predictors of PA parenting in low-income families and to examine the impact of their broader life circumstances including indicators of stress.

Keywords:

• child
• family ecology
• parenting
• physical activity

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was supported by Grant No. R24MD004865 from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Commission on Economic Opportunity for the Greater Capital Region and the Head Start families they serve for their commitment to the project.