Association of family environment with children's television viewing and with low level of physical activity.
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.
Salmon
Jo
J
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
Timperio
Anna
A
Telford
Amanda
A
Carver
Alison
A
Crawford
David
D
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