Table 1 Potential correlates of young children’s objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior (n = 394)
Potential correlates | Use in analysis | Mean (SD) or % |
|---|---|---|
Demographic and biological variables | ||
Sex | Binary variable (%boys) | 53.9 |
Age | Continuous variable (years) | 3.9 (0.7) |
Birth weight | Continuous variable (grams) | 3297.7 (566.7) |
Chronic health condition | Re-coded to dichotomous variable (%with chronic health condition) | 7.6 |
BMIa | Re-coded to dichotomous variable (%overweight or obese) | 24.9 |
Gross motor skillsa | Continuous variable (composite z-score) | 0.04 (1.0) |
Siblings | Binary variable (%having older siblings) | 41.8 |
Parental BMI | Re-coded to dichotomous variable (%at least one overweight or obese parent) | 48.4 |
SES | Continuous variable (parental ISEI score [range 16–90; increases with higher SES]) | 61.5 (15.9) |
Family structure | Binary variable (%single parent households) | 9.8 |
Psychological, cognitive and emotional variables | ||
Self-regulationa | Continuous variable (NEPSY score [range 0–30; increases with better self-regulation]) | 20.3 (9.1) |
Psychological difficulties | Continuous variable (SDQ total score [range 0–40; increases with more difficulties]) | 8.9 (4.5) |
Emotionality temperament | Continuous variable (EAS emotionality score [range 1–5; increases with more pronounced trait]) | 2.8 (0.7) |
Activity temperament | Continuous variable (EAS activity score [range 1–5; increases with more pronounced trait]) | 3.8 (0.7) |
Shyness temperament | Continuous variable (EAS shyness score [range 1–5; increases with more pronounced trait]) | 2.3 (0.7) |
Parenting stress | Continuous variable (PSS score [range 5–90; increases with more parenting stress]) | 37.2 (7.4) |
Cognitive performancea | Continuous variable (composite z-score) | 0.03 (0.8) |
Behavioral variables | ||
Sleep duration | Continuous variable (hours) | 10.8 (0.6) |
Play frequency | Re-coded to dichotomous variable (%more than once/week) | 86.4 |
Social and cultural variables | ||
Parental sedentary behavior | Continuous variable (hours) | 3 (2–5)b |
Parental sports club membership | Re-coded to dichotomous variable (%at least one parent is member) | 27.9 |
Parental physical activity | Re-coded to dichotomous variable (%at least one parent is active) | 57.9 |
Parental involvement in child PA | Re-coded to dichotomous variable (%at least one parent is involved) | 57.9 |
Transport to childcare | Binary variable (%active) | 38.5 |
Parental tobacco use | Re-coded to dichotomous variable (%at least one parent smokes) | 24.7 |
Parental alcohol consumption | Re-coded to dichotomous variable (%at least one parent consumes large amounts) | 5.0 |
Environmental variables | ||
Time outdoors | Continuous variable (hours) | 2 (1.5–3.0)b |
Fixed toys | Continuous variable (number of items [range 0–7]) | 1.6 (1.5) |
Portable toys | Continuous variable (number of items [range 0–8]) | 4.4 (1.5) |
Days at childcare | Continuous variable (number of days [range 0–5]) | 2.8 (1.2) |
Living area per person | Continuous variable (m2) | 30 (23.3–37.5)b |
Neighborhood safety | Continuous variable (neighborhood safety sum score [range 0–44; increases with increasing concerns]) | 12.5 (6.9) |
Dog | Binary variable (%dog owner) | 5.8 |
Season | Re-coded to dichotomous variable (%summer) | 24.9 |
Region | Binary variable (%urban) | 34.3 |