Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine children's and parents' activity levels, examine the relationship between mothers' and children's mean step counts, and fathers' and children's mean step counts, and determine if there are differences in physical activity levels among children with mothers who work full time, work part time, or are not employed. Fifty-eight families participated in this 12-day study. Each family member wore a Walk4Life LS 2525 or a Walk4Life LS 2505 pedometer to measure daily step counts. Additionally, all participants completed the pedometer step count logs each night, and parents completed a short demographic form. In looking at all children, males averaged more steps per day than females in all three age categories (5-10 years, male = 12,555 to female = 10,729; 11-13 years, male = 13,749 to female = 10,373; 14-18 years, 11,849 to female = 9,795). Additionally, fathers were more active than mothers (fathers' mean step counts averaged 9,490 and mothers' mean step counts averaged 8,715). Pearson correlations revealed that parents' physical activity levels were significantly correlated with children's activity levels (mothers to their children = .247, p = .003 & fathers to their children = .316, p = .000). Further analysis using Pearson correlations showed significant correlations between mothers and their female children (.291, p = .022) and between fathers and their male children (.342, p = .002). ANOVA (mothers' employment status x mean daily step count) was used to determine differences among the three groups (full time, part time, and not employed). No significant differences in children's mean step counts were found among any of the groups (F (2, 141) = 2.545, p = .082).

Degree

College and Department

Life Sciences; Exercise Sciences

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