title: A cross-sectional study of the relationship between parents' and children's physical activity.
abstract: Though parents' physical activity (PA) is thought to be a predictor of children's PA, findings have been mixed. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between pedometer-measured steps/day of parents' and their children and potential moderators of this relationship. We also assessed the parent-child PA relationship as measured by questionnaires.
  
  
  
  Six-hundred and twelve 7-8 year olds and one of their parents wore Steps Count (SC)-T2 pedometers for four consecutive days. Parents reported their PA from the last seven days and their child's usual PA. Hierarchical linear regressions were used to assess the parent-child PA relationships, controlling for covariates. Gender (parent, child), gender homogeneity, weight status (parent, child), weight status homogeneity, and socioeconomic status (SES) variables (parent education, household income, area-level SES) were tested as potential moderators of this relationship. Partial r's were used as an estimate of effect size.
  
  
  
  Parents' steps was significantly related to children's steps (rpartial= .24). For every 1,000 step increase in parents' steps, the children took 260 additional steps. None of the tested interactions were found to moderate this relationship. Using questionnaires, a relatively smaller parent-child PA relationship was found (rpartial= .14).
  
  
  
  Physically active parents tend to have physically active children. Interventions designed to get children moving more throughout the day could benefit from including a parent component. Future research should explore the mechanisms by which parents influence their children, and other parent attributes and styles as potential moderators.
authors: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, 1-155 Van Vliet Complex, AB, T6G 2H9, Edmonton, Canada. jodie.stearns@ualberta.ca.
authors: Jodie A
authors: JA
authors: Stearns
authors: School of Exercise Science and Physical Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada.
authors: Ryan
authors: R
authors: Rhodes
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors: Geoff D C
authors: GD
authors: Ball
authors: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, 1-155 Van Vliet Complex, AB, T6G 2H9, Edmonton, Canada.
authors: Normand
authors: N
authors: Boule
authors: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Veugelers
authors: Institut national de la recherche scientifique- Institut Armand-Frappier, Unité d'épidémiologie et biostatistique/Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Laval, Canada.
authors: Nicoleta
authors: N
authors: Cutumisu
authors: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, 1-155 Van Vliet Complex, AB, T6G 2H9, Edmonton, Canada.
authors: John C
authors: JC
authors: Spence
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Children; Parents; Pedometers; Physical activity; Questionnaires