Using mixed methods to understand women's parenting practices related to their child's outdoor play and physical activity among families living in diverse neighborhood environments

Maura M Kepper; Amanda E Staiano; Peter T Katzmarzyk; Rodrigo S Reis; Amy A Eyler; Derek M Griffith; Michelle L Kendall; Basant ElBanna; Kara D Denstel; Stephanie T Broyles

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102292

Using mixed methods to understand women's parenting practices related to their child's outdoor play and physical activity among families living in diverse neighborhood environments

Health Place. 2020 Mar:62:102292. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102292. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Washington University in St. Louis, Prevention Research Center, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Washington University in St. Louis, Prevention Research Center, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Washington University in St. Louis, Prevention Research Center, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Vanderbilt University, Center for Medicine, Health and Society, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health, 2020 Gravier Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Washington University in St. Louis, Prevention Research Center, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁹ Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
¹⁰ Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 32479369
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102292

Abstract

A convergent parallel mixed methods design was used to understand parenting practices for outdoor play, their influence on adolescent's physical activity and outdoor play and the role of the neighborhood and child's sex. Adolescents (n = 263) and their parents completed questionnaires and wore accelerometers. Parents (n = 30) participated in in-depth interviews. Parenting practices were examined by neighborhood disadvantage and child's sex in quantitative (Chi-square and T-tests) and qualitative (comparative thematic analysis) samples. Multi-level linear mixed models examined the associations between parenting practices and two adolescent outcomes: physical activity and outdoor play. Parents in high disadvantage neighborhoods and of female adolescents imposed more restrictions on outdoor play. Restrictive parenting practices were negatively associated with outdoor play, but not physical activity. Policy and environment change that improves neighborhood conditions may be necessary to reduce parents' fear and lessen restrictions on outdoor play.

Keywords: Independent mobility; Mixed methods; Neighborhood disadvantage; Outdoor play; Parenting practices; Physical activity.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Accelerometry
Adolescent
Child
Exercise / physiology*
Female
Humans
Male
Mothers / psychology*
Parenting / psychology*
Play and Playthings*
Residence Characteristics*
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors*
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding