Gender differences in the distribution of factors associated with physical inactivity among school children in the Republic of Ireland

Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for ill health across the life course. This study uses baseline (08/2007-05/2008) data from the Growing Up in Ireland: National Longitudinal Study of Children, the first population-based, representative longitudinal study of children in the Republic of Ireland, to identify which factors influence physical inactivity among 8,504 9-year-old children (48.8%girls).

Descriptive statistics and uni- and multivariate, weighted logistic regression models demonstrated marked gender differences in the associations between individual, familial, social and environmental factors and self-reported physical inactivity. Only 25.3% of children (21.2%girls,29.3%boys) reported achieving the recommended 60 minutes daily of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the past week.

In both boys and girls, greater odds of inactivity was associated with spending less time with friends or parents, having poor relationships with parents, one or both parents being overweight or obese, child's BMI, and not taking part in sport. For girls only, inactivity was associated with perceived neighborhood safetY(OR=1.09, 1.02-1.15), permissive parenting style, and engagement in non-sport after-school activities. Increased screen-time(OR=1.24, 1.08-1.34), hyperactivity, and negative neighborhood characteristics perceived by parents(OR=1.04, 1.01-1.08) or boy(OR=1.08, 1.03-1.13), such as not having friends or a club nearby, were statistically associated with greater odds of inactivity in boys only. (All other odds ratios>1.0, confidence intervals do not contain null).

School children in Ireland, like their peers worldwide, are less active than recommended. Identification of gender-specific inactivity correlates is necessary to inform development of tailored interventions to increase engagement in physical activities to improve health and well-being of young people now and as they age.