Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between parents' and preschoolers' physical activity and television viewing : the HAPPY study

Background: Parental modelling has been shown to be important for school-aged children’s physical activity (PA) and television (TV) viewing, yet little is known about its impact for younger children. This study examined cross-sectional and three-year longitudinal associations between PA and TV viewing behaviours of parents and their preschool children.Method: In 2008-9 (T1), parents in the HAPPY cohort study (n=450) in Melbourne, Australia self-reported their weekly PA and TV viewing, and proxy-reported their partner’s PA and TV viewing, and their 3-5 year-old preschool child’s TV viewing. Children’s PA was assessed via accelerometers. Repeat data collection occurred in 2011-12 (T2). Results: Mothers’ and fathers’ PA were associated with PA among preschool girls at T1, but not boys. Parents’ TV viewing times were significant correlates of girls’ and boys’ TV viewing at T1. Longitudinally, mothers’ PA at baseline predicted boys’ PA at T2, while sex-specific associations were found for TV viewing, with mothers’ and fathers’ TV viewing at T1 associated with girls’ and boys’ TV viewing respectively at T2. Conclusions: The PA and TV viewing of both parents are significantly associated with these behaviours in preschool children. The influence of the sex-matched parent appears to be important longitudinally for children’s TV viewing.