298057
Parental Factors that Influence Swimming in Children and Adolescents
Background: Physical activity is important for health and well-being across the life-span. Swimming can be an important source of physical activity. Researchers have found that parents influence physical activity behaviors of their children. The purpose of this study was to determine what parental factors influenced the number of days that children swam.
Methods: Respondents (n=1,909) from six cities (Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Denver, CO; Memphis, TN; Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN; AND, San Diego, CA) across the United States were surveyed at local YMCAs. Data were collected between February 1 and March 31, 2010. Adolescents (12-18 years) completed their own survey, while parent/caregivers completed surveys for their oldest child (4-11 years). Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression, ANOVA and odds ratios.
Results: Children were found to swim significantly (p < 0.05) more if their parents encouraged them to swim, members of the family knew how to swim and swam with them, and their parents were not afraid of them drowning or afraid of drowning themselves. The number of times that parents swam was the strongest predictor of the number of times children swam and explained 41% of the variance in children’s swimming amounts. Additionally, a cyclical pattern was found which included encouragement to swim, fear of drowning and swimming amounts.
Discussion: This study reveals a generational pattern that keeps children and parents from swimming. Introducing strategies to reduce fear of drowning, for both children and parents, may prove to be an effective family-based intervention to increase physical activity through swimming.
Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciencesLearning Objectives:
Describe the cyclical relationship between fear of drowning, encouragement to swim and swimming amounts.
Describe strategies to reduce fear of drowning, for both children and parents, that may prove to be an effective family-based intervention to increase physical activity through swimming
Keyword(s): Physical Activity, Adolescents
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an expert in physical activity research and have experience in researching barrier to physical activity such as drowning.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.