title: Parental factors associated with walking to school and participation in organised activities at age 5: analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity is associated with better health. Two sources of activity for children are walking to school and taking part in organised sports and activities. This study uses a large national cohort to examine factors associated with participation in these activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Millennium Cohort study contains 5 year follow-up of 17,561 singleton children recruited between 2000-2002 in the UK. All participants were interviewed in their own homes at 9 months, 3 years and 5 years follow-up and all measures were self reports. Logistic regression and likelihood ratio tests were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children are less likely to walk to school as income and parental education increase [Adjusted odds: 0.7 (95%CI: 0.6-0.8) for higher income/education compared to low income/no qualifications]. However, if the parent plays with the child in high income families the child is more likely to walk to school [Adjusted odds: 1.67 (95%CI: 1.3-2.1)]. Children taking part in organised activities are from higher income, higher education families, with a car, in a "good" area with non-working mothers. However, in low socio-economic families where the parent plays with the child the child is more likely to take part in organised activities [Adjusted odds: 2.0 (95% CI: 1.5-2.7)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Income is an important determinant of the type of activity available to children. Families that report good health behaviours (non-smoking, low TV viewing) and play with their children show higher levels of physical activity. Thus, parenting practice appears to have a strong impact on their child's physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Information, Research and Evaluation, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales, UK. s.brophy@swansea.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sinead
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brophy
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cooksey
authors.forename: Ronan A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: Non E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gravenor
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010290:Parents; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014505:Urban Population; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*