Many factors impact children’s opportunities to be physically active, including their home environment, parents’ role modeling, and support of physical activity (PA) opportunities (Moore et al., 1991). Additional factors, such as religious participation, access to recreational facilities, and social support may also contribute to improved health (Jarvis & Northcott, 1987). Limited research has been conducted to examine parental influences on children’s PA among families where religion plays a prominent role. The purpose of this study was to examine parental influence on children’s PA participation.
Method:
Participants were purposefully sampled and included 14 parents and 10 children dedicated to living the doctrine and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). Children (ages 8-12) were biological offspring of their parents (ages 20-50). Data sources included: a) demographic questionnaire, b) participants’ digital photographs, c) photo-elicitation interviews, and d) semi-structured interviews. Participant photographs were used to elicit comments and evoke additional family conversations of their physical activity behaviors (Harper, 2002). Data were analyzed using a constant comparative method (Glaser & Strauss, 1967).
Analysis/Results:
Results indicated two categories of parental influences: role modeling and support. Direct parental role modeling was described and depicted in photographs as participation with their children and included coaching, scouting, and exercising. Indirect parental involvement most often took the form of being a spectator at children’s sporting events. Parental support included encouragement and facilitation of PA by limiting screen time and supporting participation in youth sport, outdoor activity time, or church events. Facilitating influences consisted of signing up and transporting children to sporting events and additional physical activity opportunities (i.e., park, school playground, and swimming pool). Religion influenced parents’ and children’s PA via church sponsored PA opportunities (i.e., scouts), and the Word of Wisdom (doctrine encouraging eating healthy foods and taking care of the body). Overall, encouraging behaviors, by parents, were discussed as ways to overcome factors restricting children’s PA including homework, screen time, and safety concerns.
Conclusions:
Positive parental PA behaviors influenced children’s PA through role modeling and encouragement, reinforcing parental support as a well-accepted determinate of children’s PA. Parents were heavily involved in children’s PA choices, taking an active role serving as the gatekeepers of physically active opportunities for their children. Among the families examined, the church organizational structure (i.e., church sponsored activities) played a more prominent role in the promotion of PA than did religion itself.