Gender differences in the distribution of children’s physical activity: evidence from nine countries
Abstract Background Physical activity in childhood is thought to influences health and development. Previous studies have found that boys are typically more active than girls, yet the focus has largely been on differences in average levels or proportions above a threshold rather than the full distri...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01496-0 |
| _version_ | 1797556373101215744 |
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| author | Luke Kretschmer Gul Deniz Salali Lars Bo Andersen Pedro C. Hallal Kate Northstone Luís B. Sardinha Mark Dyble David Bann International Children’s Accelerometry Database (ICAD) Collaborators |
| author_facet | Luke Kretschmer Gul Deniz Salali Lars Bo Andersen Pedro C. Hallal Kate Northstone Luís B. Sardinha Mark Dyble David Bann International Children’s Accelerometry Database (ICAD) Collaborators |
| author_sort | Luke Kretschmer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Physical activity in childhood is thought to influences health and development. Previous studies have found that boys are typically more active than girls, yet the focus has largely been on differences in average levels or proportions above a threshold rather than the full distribution of activity across all intensities. We thus examined differences in the distribution of physical activity between girls and boys in a multi-national sample of children. Methods We used the harmonised International Children Accelerometry Database (ICAD), including waist-worn accelerometry data from 15,461 individuals (Boys: 48.3%) from 9 countries. Employing Generalised Additive Models of Location, Shape, and Scale (GAMLSS) we investigated gender differences in the distribution of individuals, including comparisons of variability (SD) and average physical activity levels (mean and median) and skewness. We conducted this analysis for each activity intensity (Sedentary, Light, and Moderate-to-Vigorous (MVPA)) and a summary measure (counts per minute (CPM)). Results Sizable gender differences in the distribution of activity were found for moderate to vigorous activity and counts per minute, with boys having higher average levels (38% higher mean volumes of MVPA, 20% higher CPM), yet substantially more between-person variability (30% higher standard deviation (SD) for MVPA, 17% higher SD for CPM); boys’ distributions were less positively skewed than girls. Conversely, there was little to no difference between girls and boys in the distribution of sedentary or light-intensity activity. Conclusions Inequality in activity between girls and boys was driven by MVPA. The higher mean volumes of MVPA in boys occurred alongside greater variability. This suggests a need to consider the underlying distribution of activity in future research; for example, interventions which target gender inequality in MVPA may inadvertently lead to increased inequality within girls. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:01:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-76924beb717049e48a4875fe34610a28 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:01:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj.art-76924beb717049e48a4875fe34610a282023-11-20T10:57:13ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682023-09-0120111010.1186/s12966-023-01496-0Gender differences in the distribution of children’s physical activity: evidence from nine countriesLuke Kretschmer0Gul Deniz Salali1Lars Bo Andersen2Pedro C. Hallal3Kate Northstone4Luís B. Sardinha5Mark Dyble6David Bann7International Children’s Accelerometry Database (ICAD) CollaboratorsCentre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, UCLDepartment of Anthropology, University College LondonDepartment of Sport, Food and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Teacher Education and Sports, Western Norway University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBristol School of Medicine, Population Health Sciences, University of BristolExercise and Health Laboratory, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, CIPER, Universidade de LisboaDepartment of Anthropology, University College LondonCentre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, UCLAbstract Background Physical activity in childhood is thought to influences health and development. Previous studies have found that boys are typically more active than girls, yet the focus has largely been on differences in average levels or proportions above a threshold rather than the full distribution of activity across all intensities. We thus examined differences in the distribution of physical activity between girls and boys in a multi-national sample of children. Methods We used the harmonised International Children Accelerometry Database (ICAD), including waist-worn accelerometry data from 15,461 individuals (Boys: 48.3%) from 9 countries. Employing Generalised Additive Models of Location, Shape, and Scale (GAMLSS) we investigated gender differences in the distribution of individuals, including comparisons of variability (SD) and average physical activity levels (mean and median) and skewness. We conducted this analysis for each activity intensity (Sedentary, Light, and Moderate-to-Vigorous (MVPA)) and a summary measure (counts per minute (CPM)). Results Sizable gender differences in the distribution of activity were found for moderate to vigorous activity and counts per minute, with boys having higher average levels (38% higher mean volumes of MVPA, 20% higher CPM), yet substantially more between-person variability (30% higher standard deviation (SD) for MVPA, 17% higher SD for CPM); boys’ distributions were less positively skewed than girls. Conversely, there was little to no difference between girls and boys in the distribution of sedentary or light-intensity activity. Conclusions Inequality in activity between girls and boys was driven by MVPA. The higher mean volumes of MVPA in boys occurred alongside greater variability. This suggests a need to consider the underlying distribution of activity in future research; for example, interventions which target gender inequality in MVPA may inadvertently lead to increased inequality within girls.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01496-0Physical activityChildhoodAccelerometerGenderGAMLSSICAD |
| spellingShingle | Luke Kretschmer Gul Deniz Salali Lars Bo Andersen Pedro C. Hallal Kate Northstone Luís B. Sardinha Mark Dyble David Bann International Children’s Accelerometry Database (ICAD) Collaborators Gender differences in the distribution of children’s physical activity: evidence from nine countries International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Physical activity Childhood Accelerometer Gender GAMLSS ICAD |
| title | Gender differences in the distribution of children’s physical activity: evidence from nine countries |
| title_full | Gender differences in the distribution of children’s physical activity: evidence from nine countries |
| title_fullStr | Gender differences in the distribution of children’s physical activity: evidence from nine countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender differences in the distribution of children’s physical activity: evidence from nine countries |
| title_short | Gender differences in the distribution of children’s physical activity: evidence from nine countries |
| title_sort | gender differences in the distribution of children s physical activity evidence from nine countries |
| topic | Physical activity Childhood Accelerometer Gender GAMLSS ICAD |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01496-0 |
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