title: Association of family environment with children's television viewing and with low level of physical activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined associations between the family environment and children's television (TV) viewing and likelihood of being low-active.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2001, children were recruited from 19 primary schools in Melbourne, Australia. Parents completed a questionnaire about their child's TV viewing and the family environment. Children also completed a questionnaire and wore an accelerometer for 8 days. Movement counts were used to identify low-active children (lowest quartile). Data were analyzed in May 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample consisted of 878 children (mean age = 11.5 +/- 0.6 yrs). Multiple logistic regression revealed that socioeconomic status [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 0.4 boys], frequency families watched TV together (AOR = 2.0 boys), mothers' (AOR = 1.8 boys; AOR = 2.5 girls) and fathers' (AOR = 2.6 boys; AOR = 2.8 girls) TV viewing, and rules prohibiting TV during mealtimes (AOR = 0.6 boys; AOR = 0.6 girls) related to children watching TV >or=2 h/d. Variables associated with low-level physical activity included self-reported enjoyment of Internet use (AOR = 1.7 boys) and preference for watching TV (AOR = 2.3 girls), perception that mother uses computer a lot (AOR = 1.9 boys) and likes using the computer (AOR = 0.6 girls), fathers' reported computer/electronic games use (AOR = 1.7 girls), frequency families used computer together (AOR = 0.4 girls), rules that TV viewing must be supervised (AOR = 1.9 boys; AOR = 0.6 girls), and having pay TV (AOR = 0.6 boys) and electronic games at home (AOR = 2.6 boys).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the relationships between the family environment and TV viewing and low-level activity are complex and that these behaviors are distinct.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. jsalmon@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Timperio
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Telford
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carver
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003199:Computer Systems; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television; D018910:Video Games