Scheduled for Poster Session: The Impact of Physical Activity Across Society, Lifespans, and Cultures, Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 1:45 PM - 3:15 PM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall, Reseach Consortium Poster Sessions


Relationship Between Maternal Employment and Children's Physical Activity

Michael Parker1, Carol Wilkinson2, Susan Vincent Graser2 and Todd Pennington2, (1)Springville Junior High School, Springville, UT, (2)Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

The purpose of this study was to determine children's and parent's activity levels, examine the relationship between the mothers' and the children's mean step counts, and fathers' and the children's mean step counts, and determine if there are differences in physical activity levels among children with mothers who work full time, work part time, or are not employed. Fifty-eight families participated in this 12-day study. Each family member wore a Walk4Life LS 2525 or a Walk4Life LS 2505 pedometer to measure daily step counts. Additionally, all participants completed the pedometer step count logs each night, and parents completed a short demographic form. In looking at all the children, males averaged more steps per day than the females in all three age categories (5-10 years, male = 12,555 to female = 10,729; 11-13 years, male = 13,749 to female = 10,373; 14-18 years, 11,849 to female = 9,795). Additionally, fathers were more active than mothers (fathers mean step counts averaged 9,490 and mothers' mean step counts averaged 8,715). Pearson correlations revealed that parents' physical activity levels were significantly correlated with children's activity levels (mothers to their children = .247, p = .003 & fathers to their children = .316, p = .000). Further analysis using Pearson correlations showed significant correlations between mothers and their female children (.291, p = .022) and between fathers and their male children (.342, p = .002). ANOVA (Mothers' employment status x Mean daily step count) was used to determine differences among the three groups (full time, part time, and not employed). No significant differences in children's mean step counts were found among any of the groups (F (2, 58) = 2.545, p = .082).
Keyword(s): exercise/fitness/physical activity, worksite

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