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Predictors of time spent outdoors among children : 5-year longitudinal findings

Cleland, V., Timperio, A., Salmon, J., Hume, C., Baur, L. A. and Crawford, D. 2010, Predictors of time spent outdoors among children : 5-year longitudinal findings, Journal of epidemiology & community health, vol. 64, no. 5, pp. 400-406.

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Title Predictors of time spent outdoors among children : 5-year longitudinal findings
Author(s) Cleland, V.
Timperio, A.
Salmon, J.
Hume, C.
Baur, L. A.
Crawford, D.
Journal name Journal of epidemiology & community health
Volume number 64
Issue number 5
Start page 400
End page 406
Publisher B M J Group
Place of publication London, England
Publication date 2010-05
ISSN 0143-005X
1470-2738
Summary Background 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.
Language eng
Field of Research 111706 Epidemiology
Socio Economic Objective 920401 Behaviour and Health
HERDC Research category C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal
Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30029156

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Created: Tue, 08 Jun 2010, 10:46:03 EST by Jane Moschetti