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Park use is associated with less sedentary time among low-income parents and their preschool child: The NET-Works study.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION:Parks are an important component of the neighborhood environment, and their presence is believed to support higher levels of physical activity among residents. The present study examined park use frequency among a sample of 534 low-income parents of preschool aged children. Associations with child and parent physical activity, neighborhood characteristics and physical characteristics of the block immediately surrounding the home were examined. METHODS:Data are from baseline measurements completed in 2012-2014 as part of larger study (NET-Works: Now Everybody Together for Amazing and Healthy Kids) targeting low-income preschool children and their parents (N = 534 parent-child dyads). Physical activity was measured in parent and child using accelerometry. Parents reported their frequency of use with their child of parks within a half kilometer from their residence. Block audits were performed by trained research staff to describe the quality and walkability of the streets around the home. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:Bivariate associations between demographic variables, perceptions of the neighborhood environment, parent support for child physical activity, and physical activity were examined using regression or Chi square analysis. RESULTS:Park use frequency was not significantly associated with child accelerometry light, moderate or vigorous physical activity. However, it was marginally significantly inversely associated with child accelerometry sedentary time (p < 0.06). Television viewing hours on weekend days (but not on weekdays) were significantly fewer among children in the high park use group compared with children who visited the park less frequently (p < 0.01). Park use frequency was significantly positively associated with parent accelerometry moderate physical activity (p < 0.004), and was significantly inversely associated with parent accelerometry sedentary time (p < 0.002). Frequent park use was significantly positively associated with parent report of the child frequency of being taken to a park or playground outside the home (p < 0.0001), past week visit to park and recreation center (p < 0.0001) and parent-reported supportive behaviors for child physical activity (p < 0.0001). Parents who reported having to cross busy streets to reach play areas reported less frequent park use (p < 0. 02). Walkable neighborhoods (p < 0.003) and more incivilities (p < 0.02) in the immediate block surrounding the home were significantly associated with more frequent park use. CONCLUSIONS:Frequent park use with their preschool child may support higher levels of physical activity among low-income parents and reduce sedentary time for both child and parent.

SUBMITTER: French SA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5114687 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Park use is associated with less sedentary time among low-income parents and their preschool child: The NET-Works study.

French Simone A SA Sherwood Nancy E NE Mitchell Nathan R NR Fan Yingling Y

Preventive medicine reports 20161110

<h4>Introduction</h4>Parks are an important component of the neighborhood environment, and their presence is believed to support higher levels of physical activity among residents. The present study examined park use frequency among a sample of 534 low-income parents of preschool aged children. Associations with child and parent physical activity, neighborhood characteristics and physical characteristics of the block immediately surrounding the home were examined.<h4>Methods</h4>Data are from ba ...[more]

PMID: 27872802

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Project description:ObjectivesPreschool is an important setting for regulating sedentary time (ST). The preschool day in Finland follows daily structures by having morning and afternoon slots for group-based activities that can encourage children for movement (eg, free play and outdoor time) or be still (eg, teacher-led sessions and sitting-based circles). This study aims to explore if the weekly routines in preschool and if more frequent visits in places encouraging physical activity (PA) are associated with children's ST during preschool hours.DesignCross-sectional DAGIS (Increased Health and Wellbeing in Preschools) study in the years 2015 and 2016.SettingIn Finland.Participants864 children (48% girls, 4.7 years) from 159 preschool groups in 66 preschools OUTCOME MEASURES: A total of 778 children wore required lengths of time (at least 240?min per preschool day, at least 2?days) the accelerometer during preschool hours. Each preschool group reported their weekly schedule during the week, and one early educator completed a questionnaire covering practices. The following five measures related to weekly structures were formed; times of outdoors (times per day), teacher-led sessions (times per day), free play (low, middle or high), organised PA lessons (no lessons at all/others) and mixed activities (no lessons at all/others), and the following five measures about the frequencies of visits in places encouraging PA; nature trips (times per week), play parks (times per week), neighbourhood sport facilities (no visits at all/others), visits to gym or other indoor facility (no visits at all/others) and field trips to neighbourhoods (times per week). Multilevel linear regression analyses were conducted to measure the associations.ResultsOf all the tested associations, only more frequently conducted nature trips were associated with lower children's ST during preschool hours (?=-1.026; 95%?CI -1.804 to -0.248).ConclusionFrequent nature trips in preschools may be important due to its association with lower preschool children's ST.

Project description:BackgroundIt is important to detect children with Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examinations (ESSENCE) in order to implement early intervention and support for the child and family. Standardized instruments for assessment in different contexts of behaviour problems, engagement and psychosocial health obtain an objective picture of the preschool child's mental health.AimTo explore and compare parents', preschool teachers' and child health care psychologists' assessment of behaviour, everyday function, engagement, social interaction and psychosocial health in children with ESSENCE symptoms.MethodParents of 152 children (114 boys and 38 girls, 4.5 ± 1 years) with ESSENCE symptoms, 155 preschool teachers and 8 child psychologists participated. Parents and preschool teachers assessed externalizing and internalizing behavioural problems using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), including the SDQ supplement for assessing the impact of behavioral problems on daily function. Preschool teachers also assessed engagement and social interaction using the Children's Engagement Questionnaire (CEQ), and the child psychologists assessed psychosocial health with the Child Psychosocial Health Assessment (LillaLAPS) and template in conversations with parents of children with neurodevelopmental problems.ResultsParents', preschool teachers' and child psychologists' assessment of the child's ESSENCE symptoms overall agreed. Both parents and preschool teachers see a strength in the child's social abilities. Differences in mean values show that parents assess more conduct, emotional symptoms and problems in daily life and more social skills, compared to the preschool teachers rating more peer problems.ConclusionIt is important to consider different contexts to identify the child's need for support in everyday life. Expanded use of validated screening instruments in clinical practice would promote detection of children not already identified as exhibiting neurodevelopmental problems.

Project description:BACKGROUND: Early childhood provides a window of opportunity for the promotion of physical activity. Given the limited effectiveness of interventions to date, new approaches are needed. Socio-ecological models suggest that involving parents as intervention targets may be effective in fostering healthier lifestyles in children. This study describes the effectiveness of a family-focused 'Active Play' intervention in decreasing sedentary time and increasing total physical activity in preschool children. METHOD: Seventy-seven families were recruited from 8 randomly selected SureStart children's centres in the North West of England. Centres were randomly assigned to either an intervention (n = 4) or a comparison group (n = 4). Parents and children in the intervention group received a 10-week active play programme delivered by trained active play professionals; this included an activity and educational component. Families in the comparison group were asked to maintain their usual routine. Each participating parent and child wore a uni-axial accelerometer for 7 days at baseline and post-test. Week and weekend day sedentary time and total physical activity adjusted for child- and home- level covariates were analysed using multilevel analyses. RESULTS: Significant intervention effects were observed for sedentary time and physical activity for both week and weekend days. Children in the intervention group engaged in 1.5% and 4.3% less sedentary time during week and weekend days, respectively and 4.5% and 13.1% more physical activity during week and weekend days, respectively than children in the comparison group. Parent's participation in sport and their physical activity levels, child's sex, availability of media in the home and attendance at organised activities were significant predictors of sedentary time and physical activity in this age group. CONCLUSION: A 10-week family focused active play intervention produced positive changes in sedentary time and total physical activity levels in preschool children. Specific covariates were identified as having a significant effect on the outcome measures. Moreover, children whose parents were active engaged in less sedentary time and more physical activity suggesting that parent's activity habits are mediators of physical activity engagement in this age group.

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Park use is associated with less sedentary time among low-income parents and their preschool child: The NET-Works study.

Publications

Park use is associated with less sedentary time among low-income parents and their preschool child: The NET-Works study.

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