The Effect of Parent–Child Function on Physical Activity and Television Viewing among Adolescents with and without Special Healthcare Needs

Abstract

Using the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, the association between parent–child function and physical activity and television viewing was investigated among a national sample of adolescents in the United States. Parent–child function was measured using the National Survey of Children’s Health “Family Function” survey items and confirmatory factor analysis. Multivariable regression described the influence of parent–child function and having a special healthcare need (SHCN) on physical activity and television viewing, and described the differential influence of parent–child function on type of SHCN. Higher parent–child function was associated with more frequent physical activity (relative risk = 1.18, 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 1.3) and less frequent television viewing (relative risk = 0.91, 95% confidence interval: 0.86, 0.96). Controlling for parent–child function, having any SHCN was not associated with physical activity or television viewing. Controlling for type of SHCN, higher parent–child function influenced physical activity for adolescents with autism (p = 0.007) or a functional limitation (p = 0.001). Policy and programmatic efforts to bolster organised parent–child physical activities and reduce caregiver burden might ameliorate disparities in physical activity.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• children with special healthcare needs
• confirmatory factor analysis
• functional limitations
• National Survey of Children’s Health
• parent–child function
• physical activity
• television viewing

Acknowledgements

Dr McManus acknowledges funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholars Program at University of Wisconsin—Madison. There was no research funding for this study, and no restrictions have been imposed on free access to, or publication of, the research data.