Adolescents’ Physical Activity In Relation To Parents’ Socioeconomic Status

Background: The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of family SES and parents’ physical activity on adolescents’ physical activity level and sedentary lifestyle among both boy students and girl students living in Beijing. Methods: The participants were 960 adolescents (472 boys, 488 girls) who are 10th and 11th graders with an average age of 16 yr. from three senior high schools in Beijing, China. Physical activity levels of the participants were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in its short format. The self-reported minutes of physical activity were then computed into units of metabolic index (MET) according to the guidelines in the IPAQ manual. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels and the minutes spent sitting could also be calculated through the IPAQ. The students reported physical activity levels of the parents. The construct of the participants’ SES was assessed using an authoritative Chinese scale of big city residents. Students were then classified into three groups according to their parents’ physical activity, educational degree, type of occupation, and their family annual income, respectively. The statistical analysis was conducted with the SPSS software, Version 24. One-Way ANOVAs were employed to investigate the impact of SES and the parents’ physical activity on the students’ physical activity and sedentary lifestyle. Fisher’s LSD was conducted to examine the group differences in total physical activity, MVPA and sitting time. Statistical significance was set at p<.05. Results: Boys whose mothers are of moderate and high educational degree have more total METs than the boys whose mothers are of low educational degree. Students from moderate-income families have more total METs than students of low-income families have, for both boys and girls. The students, whose mothers often perform physical activity, have more total METs than those whose mothers do not often perform physical activity, for both boys and girls. Boys whose mothers are of moderate and high educational degree have more MVPA minutes than the boys whose mothers are of low educational degree. Girls, whose mothers often perform physical activity, have more MVPA minutes than the girls whose mothers do not often perform physical activity. Girls whose mothers are of high educational degree have more sitting time than the girls whose mothers are of moderate educational degree. Girls from high-income families have more sitting time than the girls from low and moderate-income families have. No statistical significances are found for the fathers’ side. Conclusions: Mothers’ educational level is related to their sons’ physical activity. Family income and mothers’ physical activity level are related to the sons and daughters’ physical activity. Mothers’ educational level is related to their sons’ MVPA. Mothers’ physical activity level is related to their daughters’ MVPA. Family income and mothers’ educational level are related to their daughters’ sitting time. Fathers’ educational level, type of occupation and physical activity level do not affect their sons and daughters’ physical activity and sedentary lifestyle. A potential explanation for this is that mothers devote more time to childcare. 

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