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Predictors of time spent outdoors among children: 5-year longitudinal findings
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 07:38 authored by Verity ClelandVerity Cleland, Timperio, A, Salmon, J, Hume, C, Baur, LA, Crawford, DBackground Given the importance of physical activity for health and age-related declines in physical activity, understanding influences on related behaviours, such as time outdoors, is crucial. This study aimed to understand individual, social and physical environmental influences on longitudinal changes in urban children’s time outdoors. Methods The time children spent outdoors in 2001, 2004 and 2006 (aged 5e6 and 10e12 years at baseline) was reported by their parents (n¼421). In 2001, individual, social and physical environmental factors were self-reported by parents. Generalized estimating equations examined longitudinal relationships between baseline predictors and average change in time outdoors over 5 years. Results Children’s time outdoors significantly declined over time. “Indoor tendencies” inversely predicted time outdoors among younger and older boys, and younger girls. Social opportunities positively predicted time outdoors among younger boys, while “outdoor tendencies” positively predicted time outdoors among older boys. Parental encouragement for activity positively predicted time outdoors among younger and older girls, while lack of adult supervision for active play outdoors after school inversely predicted time outdoors among older girls and older boys. Conclusion Individual (indoor and outdoor tendencies) and social factors (social opportunities, parental encouragement and parental supervision) predicted children’s time outdoors over 5 years. Interventions targeting reduced indoor tendencies, increased outdoor play with others, and increased parental encouragement and supervision are warranted.
History
Publication title
Journal of Epidemiology and Community HealthVolume
64Issue
5Pagination
400-406ISSN
0143-005XDepartment/School
Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchPublisher
B M J Publishing GroupPlace of publication
British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London, England, Wc1H 9JrRights statement
Copyright 2010 Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. This is a pre-review version of [Predictors of time spent outdoors among children: 5-year longitudinal findings, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2010, 65, 5. The peer-reviewed Version of Record can be accessed online at http:/dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2009.087460Repository Status
- Open