Step counts of 10- to 11-year-old children by ethnicity and metropolitan status.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to conduct a secondary analysis by combining 2 pedometer data sets to describe and analyze pedometer-determined steps/day of children by ethnicity and metropolitan status.


METHODS
Participants were 582 children (309 girls, 273 boys; 53% Hispanic, 26% Caucasian, 21% African American) age 10 to 11 years (M = 10.37 +/- 0.48) attending 1 of 10 schools located in urban, suburban, and rural settings. Participants wore a research grade pedometer for at least 3 week/school days. Mean steps/day were analyzed by gender, ethnicity, and metropolitan status.


RESULTS
Statistical analyses indicated 1) boys (12,853 +/- 3831; P < .001) obtained significantly more steps/day than girls (10,409 +/- 3136); 2) African American (10,709 +/- 3386; P < .05) children accumulated significantly less steps/day than Hispanic (11,845 +/- 3901) and Caucasian (11,668 +/- 3369) children; and 3) urban (10,856 +/- 3706; P < .05) children obtained significantly less steps/day than suburban (12,297 +/- 3616) and rural (11,934 +/- 3374) children.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings support self-report data demonstrating reduced physical activity among African American children and youth, especially girls, and among children and youth living in urban areas. Possible reasons for these discrepancies are explored.
Johnson
Tyler G
TG
Dept of Kinesiology, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA.
Brusseau
Timothy A
TA
Vincent Graser
Susan
S
Darst
Paul W
PW
Kulinna
Pamela H
PH
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012424:Rural Population; D013383:Suburban Population; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People