title: Mothers and Fathers Both Matter: The Positive Influence of Parental Physical Activity Modelling on Children's Leisure-Time Physical Activity.
abstract: To investigate associations between maternal and paternal sport participation, and children's leisure-time physical activity, and to explore differences by child gender.
  
  
  
  The sample comprised 737 year five students (mean age: 11.0 ± 0.6 years, 52% male) recruited through the Fit for Pisa Project which was conducted in 2008 at 6 secondary schools in Goettingen, Germany. Maternal and paternal sport participation were assessed through child reports of mothers' and fathers' weekly participation in sport. Children's leisure-time physical activity was measured as minutes/week that children engaged in organized and nonorganized sport. Multiple linear regression was used to assess associations between maternal and paternal sport participation, and children's leisure-time physical activity.
  
  
  
  Both maternal and paternal sport participation were positively associated with children's leisure-time physical activity (maternal: b = 34.20, p < .001; paternal: b = 25.32, p < .05). When stratifying analyses by child gender, maternal sport participation remained significantly associated with leisure-time physical activity in girls (b = 60.64, p < .001). In contrast, paternal sport participation remained significantly associated with leisure-time physical activity in boys (b = 43.88, p < .01).
  
  
  
  Both maternal and paternal modeling positively influence children's leisure-time physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Central Queensland University, School of Human, Health and Social Sciences, Physical Activity Research Group, Rockhampton, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schoeppe
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liersch
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Röbl
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krauth
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Walter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D013177:Sports