Physical activity and TV viewing parenting practices for toddlers among South Asian and white families in the UK: born in Bradford 1000 study

Abstract Background Children of South Asian (SA) origin in the UK have lower levels of physical activity (PA), compared to their White counterparts. Parents play an important role in establishing PA habits among young children. The aim of this study was to compare PA and television (TV) viewing pare...

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Main Authors: Soyang Kwon, Namratha R. Kandula, Pooja S. Tandon, Nilay S. Shah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-08-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16522-w
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author Soyang Kwon
Namratha R. Kandula
Pooja S. Tandon
Nilay S. Shah
author_facet Soyang Kwon
Namratha R. Kandula
Pooja S. Tandon
Nilay S. Shah
author_sort Soyang Kwon
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Children of South Asian (SA) origin in the UK have lower levels of physical activity (PA), compared to their White counterparts. Parents play an important role in establishing PA habits among young children. The aim of this study was to compare PA and television (TV) viewing parenting practices for young children between SA British (SAB) and White British (WB) parents living in the UK. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of the Born in Bradford (BiB) 1000 study, using survey data at child ages 24 and 36 months. The study sample included three groups of mothers (n = 1,149): foreign-born SAB (n = 458), UK-born SAB (n = 276), and WB (n = 455). Mothers completed a survey about parenting practices (i.e., PA supports, PA restrictions, TV viewing restrictions) at child age 24 months and child PA and TV viewing behaviors at child ages 24 and 36 months. Parenting practices were compared among the three groups. Multivariable linear regression analyses compared children’s weekly walking frequency and daily TV viewing hours by parenting practices in the three groups. Results The foreign-born SAB group showed the lowest frequencies of PA-supportive parenting practices (verbal encouragement: 3.7 ± 3.1 times/week; logistic support: 1.5 ± 1.8 times/week) and the highest frequencies of PA-restrictive parenting practices (7.8 ± 7.7 times/week) among the three groups (p < 0.01). Children of Foreign-born SAB mothers had the most frequent TV watching during a mealtime (4.0 ± 3.1 times/week) among the three groups (p < 0.01). Less frequent PA-supportive parenting practices and SA ethnicity were associated with lower walking frequency at 24 and 36 months of age among children (p < 0.01). More frequent exposure to TV at mealtimes and SA ethnicity were associated with higher TV viewing time at 24 and 36 months of age among children (p < 0.01). Conclusions This study demonstrated that SAB parents, particularly those who are foreign-born, apply parenting practices for their young children that are less supportive of PA and more supportive of TV viewing, and their children have lower PA and higher TV viewing time, compared with their WB counterparts.
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spelling doaj.art-cf415cd20534476293f4a9a54aac795d2023-11-26T14:25:37ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-08-012311910.1186/s12889-023-16522-wPhysical activity and TV viewing parenting practices for toddlers among South Asian and white families in the UK: born in Bradford 1000 studySoyang Kwon0Namratha R. Kandula1Pooja S. Tandon2Nilay S. Shah3Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern UniversityDepartment of Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Northwestern UniversityUniversity of Washington & Seattle Children’s HospitalDepartment of Medicine (Cardiology) and Preventive Medicine, Northwestern UniversityAbstract Background Children of South Asian (SA) origin in the UK have lower levels of physical activity (PA), compared to their White counterparts. Parents play an important role in establishing PA habits among young children. The aim of this study was to compare PA and television (TV) viewing parenting practices for young children between SA British (SAB) and White British (WB) parents living in the UK. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of the Born in Bradford (BiB) 1000 study, using survey data at child ages 24 and 36 months. The study sample included three groups of mothers (n = 1,149): foreign-born SAB (n = 458), UK-born SAB (n = 276), and WB (n = 455). Mothers completed a survey about parenting practices (i.e., PA supports, PA restrictions, TV viewing restrictions) at child age 24 months and child PA and TV viewing behaviors at child ages 24 and 36 months. Parenting practices were compared among the three groups. Multivariable linear regression analyses compared children’s weekly walking frequency and daily TV viewing hours by parenting practices in the three groups. Results The foreign-born SAB group showed the lowest frequencies of PA-supportive parenting practices (verbal encouragement: 3.7 ± 3.1 times/week; logistic support: 1.5 ± 1.8 times/week) and the highest frequencies of PA-restrictive parenting practices (7.8 ± 7.7 times/week) among the three groups (p < 0.01). Children of Foreign-born SAB mothers had the most frequent TV watching during a mealtime (4.0 ± 3.1 times/week) among the three groups (p < 0.01). Less frequent PA-supportive parenting practices and SA ethnicity were associated with lower walking frequency at 24 and 36 months of age among children (p < 0.01). More frequent exposure to TV at mealtimes and SA ethnicity were associated with higher TV viewing time at 24 and 36 months of age among children (p < 0.01). Conclusions This study demonstrated that SAB parents, particularly those who are foreign-born, apply parenting practices for their young children that are less supportive of PA and more supportive of TV viewing, and their children have lower PA and higher TV viewing time, compared with their WB counterparts.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16522-wEarly childhoodChildrenMothersAcculturationWalkingSedentary behavior
spellingShingle Soyang Kwon
Namratha R. Kandula
Pooja S. Tandon
Nilay S. Shah
Physical activity and TV viewing parenting practices for toddlers among South Asian and white families in the UK: born in Bradford 1000 study
BMC Public Health
Early childhood
Children
Mothers
Acculturation
Walking
Sedentary behavior
title Physical activity and TV viewing parenting practices for toddlers among South Asian and white families in the UK: born in Bradford 1000 study
title_full Physical activity and TV viewing parenting practices for toddlers among South Asian and white families in the UK: born in Bradford 1000 study
title_fullStr Physical activity and TV viewing parenting practices for toddlers among South Asian and white families in the UK: born in Bradford 1000 study
title_full_unstemmed Physical activity and TV viewing parenting practices for toddlers among South Asian and white families in the UK: born in Bradford 1000 study
title_short Physical activity and TV viewing parenting practices for toddlers among South Asian and white families in the UK: born in Bradford 1000 study
title_sort physical activity and tv viewing parenting practices for toddlers among south asian and white families in the uk born in bradford 1000 study
topic Early childhood
Children
Mothers
Acculturation
Walking
Sedentary behavior
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16522-w
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