The Effects of Parental Socioeconomic Status on Children’ Physical Activity: Mediating Role of Motivation

Background: An important determinant of health and wellbeing is socioeconomic status as it can influence an individual’s exposure to several risk factors across the lifespan. Previous studies, using the self-report scales, have demonstrated that parental socioeconomic status is associated with physical activity in children. However, due to limitations of self-reporting methods, we aimed to assess the association between the parental socioeconomic statuses with accelerometer-measured physical activity among children. Motivation was included as a mediator. Method: ۱۲۶ participants (۴۵ girls, mean age of ۱۰.۹۲±۱.۸۹ years) wore the accelerometer for seven consecutive days. Parental socioeconomic status was measured by two items, namely, the parents’ education level and household income. The Intrinsic Motivation Scale was applied to measure motivation. Structural equation modeling was performed to analyze data. Results: ۷۴% of our sample was at medium level of parental socioeconomic status. Accelerometer data demonstrated that children spent ۷۴.۲۹% of the total time in sedentary behaviors, ۱۷.۲۰% in light physical activity, and ۸.۸۱% in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA). On average, the daily time spent in MVPA was ۴۵.۱۹ minutes, which is below the WHO guideline. In fact, ۲۷.۷% (n=۳۵) of children fulfilled the guideline. The results showed that parental socioeconomic status had significant effects on motivation (T=۴.۱۲۹) and MVPA (T=۵.۰۹۷). Moreover, motivation had a significant effect on MVPA (T=۲.۶۷۹). Finally, motivation significantly mediated the association between socioeconomic status and MVPA (P<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: As demonstrated in the findings, the socioeconomic statuses of parents and physical activity have become critical concerns about children. Accordingly, in order to increase the level of MVPA among children, large scale programs should be developed by the stakeholders to increase the parents’ socioeconomic status level.

Keywords:

Children , Socioeconomic status , Physical Activity , Motivation , accelerometer