Parental actions influence the activity levels of children, new research presented at the Be Active ‘09 Conference in Brisbane today has shown.

Research from the University of South Australia shows children who perceive both parents to be active reported the highest sports participation, while those with neither parent active reported the lowest sports participation.

This demonstrates the current role of parents as socializing agents for physical activity and shows that children may be influenced through direct observation of their parents’ active lifestyles and consequently adopt these values and behaviours.

A further study from Deakin University shows a mother’s own physical activity levels, but not television viewing time, appear to influence her promotion of physically active play and the limiting of television viewing.

“Higher levels of maternal physical activity were significantly associated with greater promotion of physical active play and the limiting of television viewing for their infants,” said author, Kylie Hesketh.

“Mothers who spent more time watching television were significantly more likely to think their baby would watch television every day and significantly more likely to intend to have the television on while their baby is eating,” said Ms Hesketh.

Further research shows family based interventions have an impact on adolescent girls’ activity levels. The girls studied cited transport, verbal encouragement and emotional support as the main ways their parents supported their activity.

Parents cited a diverse range of ways in which they support their daughter’s activity. Examples included encouraging children towards appropriate activities, emphasising the social aspect of activities, providing equipment around the home, providing incentives, discussing team commitment, encouraging incidental activity and ensuring adequate nutrition.

Childhood predictors of physical activity maintenance from childhood to early adulthood have also shown active parents to be a predictor among males.

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The Be Active ‘09 Conference (www.beactive09.com), hosted by Sports Medicine Australia, will be held in Brisbane from October 14-17.
It is a concurrent event made up of the 2009 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, the Sixth National Sports Injury Prevention Conference and the Seventh National Physical Activity Conference. Session topics will include: exercise physiology, nutrition and physiology, paediatric exercise science, neuromechanics, recovery, sports psychology, physical activity, obesity prevention, ageing and arthritis, diabetes, sports injury and clinical issues.
More than 500 research papers will be presented.