Evaluating a model of parental influence on youth physical activity.
OBJECTIVE
To test a conceptual model linking parental physical activity orientations, parental support for physical activity, and children's self-efficacy perceptions with physical activity participation.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 380 students in grades 7 through 12 (mean age, 14.0+/-1.6 years) and their parents. Data collection took place during the fall of 1996.


METHODS
Parents completed a questionnaire assessing their physical activity habits, enjoyment of physical activity, beliefs regarding the importance of physical activity, and supportive behaviors for their child's physical activity. Students completed a 46-item inventory assessing physical activity during the previous 7 days and a 5-item physical activity self-efficacy scale. The model was tested via observed variable path analysis using structural equation modeling techniques (AMOS 4.0).


RESULTS
An initial model, in which parent physical activity orientations predicted child physical activity via parental support and child self-efficacy, did not provide an acceptable fit to the data. Inclusion of a direct path from parental support to child physical activity and deletion of a nonsignificant path from parental physical activity to child physical activity significantly improved model fit. Standardized path coefficients for the revised model ranged from 0.17 to 0.24, and all were significant at the p<0.0001 level.


CONCLUSIONS
Parental support was an important correlate of youth physical activity, acting directly or indirectly through its influence on self-efficacy. Physical activity interventions targeted at youth should include and evaluate the efficacy of individual-level and community-level strategies to increase parents' capacity to provide instrumental and motivational support for their children's physical activity.
School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. strost@hms.uq.edu.au
Stewart G
SG
Trost
James F
JF
Sallis
Russell R
RR
Pate
Patty S
PS
Freedson
Wendell C
WC
Taylor
Marsha
M
Dowda
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires