title: Physical and social contextual influences on children's leisure-time physical activity: an ecological momentary assessment study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study used real-time electronic surveys delivered through mobile phones, known as Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), to determine whether level and experience of leisure-time physical activity differ across children's physical and social contexts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children (N = 121; ages 9 to 13 years; 52% male, 32% Hispanic/Latino) participated in 4 days (Fri.-Mon.) of EMA during nonschool time. Electronic surveys (20 total) assessed primary activity (eg, active play/sports/exercise), physical location (eg, home, outdoors), social context (eg, friends, alone), current mood (positive and negative affect), and enjoyment. Responses were time-matched to the number of steps and minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; measured by accelerometer) in the 30 minutes before each survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean steps and MVPA were greater outdoors than at home or at someone else's house (all P < .05). Steps were greater with multiple categories of company (eg, friends and family together) than with family members only or alone (all P < .05). Enjoyment was greater outdoors than at home or someone else's house (all P < .05). Negative affect was greater when alone and with family only than friends only (all P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results describing the value of outdoor and social settings could inform context-specific interventions in this age group.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Alhambra, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Genevieve F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Dunton
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Intille
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolch
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pentz
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires