Correlates of Vigorous Physical Activity for Children in Grades 1 through 12: Comparing Parent-Reported and Objectively Measured Physical Activity

TLDR

The study examined 21 parent‑reported explanatory variables for vigorous physical activity in 781 children across grades 1–12, with 200 participants wearing accelerometers for seven days, analyzing data separately for eight age/sex subgroups. Parent‑reported vigorous activity was explained by 11–36 % of variance, with peer support and afternoon active recreation consistently correlating, while peer support alone predicted objectively measured activity across several subgroups.

Abstract

Correlates of physical activity were examined in young people in grades 1 through 12, and analyses were conducted separately for eight age/grade and sex subgroups. Twenty-one explanatory variables were assessed by parental report. Physical activity was assessed in 781 young people via parent report, and 200 wore an accelerometer for seven days. Between 11% and 36% of parent-reported child vigorous physical activity was explained. The most consistent correlates were peer support and use of afternoon time for active rather than sedentary recreation. Peer support was the only significant correlate of objectively monitored activity in multiple subgroups.