Family Influence on Physical Activity: Exploring the Nature of Reciprocal Relationships
Keywords:
Physical activity, family, parents, childrenAbstract
This study was an exploration towards better understanding the reciprocal relationship between parents’ and children’s physical activity behaviour. Social Cognitive Theory provided a theoretical framework to investigate the nature of the family socialization process. Focus group interviews were conducted with 26 children and 16 parents to gain insight into the relationship and influence between parents’ and children’s choice to be physically active. The following themes emerged: success in doing physical activity, personal choice to be physically active, reciprocal family modeling, community and culture are models too, verbal persuasion of physical activity, asserting physical activity, health benefits of physical activity, enjoyment of physical activity, and social benefits of physical activity. Findings suggested that parents perceived they influenced their children’s physical activity and that children perceived they influenced their parents’ physical activity. The authors offer ideas for the incorporation of reciprocal family influence in the promotion of physical activity for both children and parents.
Cette étude explore les liens de réciprocité observés entre les comportements des parents et des enfants sur le plan de l’activité physique. La théorie cognitive sociale a servi de cadre théorique pour examiner la nature des procédés de socialisation des familles. Des groupes de consultation ont été établis et des entrevues menées auprès de 26 enfants et de 16 parents pour mieux comprendre les liens et les influences entre la décision des parents et celle des enfants de devenir physiquement actifs. Les grands thèmes suivants en ressortent : succès au niveau de l’activité physique, choix personnel d’être physiquement actif, modélisation familiale réciproque, modèles culturels et communautaires également, persuasion verbale de l’activité physique, affirmation de l’activité physique, bienfaits de l’activité physique pour la santé, plaisir tiré de l’activité physique et avantages sociaux de l’activité physique. Les résultats révèlent que les parents croient exercer une influence sur le taux d’activité physique de leurs enfants, alors que les enfants croient exercer une influence sur le taux d’activité physique de leurs parents. Les auteurs suggèrent des façons d’intégrer l’influence réciproque des familles dans la promotion de l’activité physique au profit des enfants et des parents.
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