Maternal Correlates of Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Girls

Alyce T. Barnes, Ronald C. Plotnikoff, Clare E. Collins, Philip J. Morgan

Given the low levels of physical activity in girls, improving our understanding of the factors associated with girls' physical activity is important. In particular, exploring maternal correlates of girls' physical activity for both generations is important, given the paucity of research in this area. The primary aim of this study was to assess maternal correlates of objectively-measured physical activity in girls. A cross-sectional design was used to assess 40 girls [mean age 8.8 years; mean body mass index (BMI) z-score = 0.7] and their mothers (mean age 39.1 years; mean BMI = 27.6) prior to an intervention. Maternal correlates of daughters' accelerometer-assessed physical activity were evaluated. Daughters' outcomes included: % moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), counts per minute (CPM) and % sedentary behavior (SED), screen time (mother-proxy) and BMI z-score (objectively measured). Maternal correlates included demographic, anthropometric, behavioral, activity-related parenting practices, and physical activity cognitions. Correlates were examined using regression models. For daughters' % MVPA, mothers' beliefs was significant in the final model (R(2) = 0.14; P = 0.01). For daughters' CPM, mothers' logistic support (P = 0.03), mothers' CPM (P = 0.02) and outcome expectations (P = 0.01) were all significant (R(2) = 0.24). For daughters' % SED, mothers' logistic support (P = 0.02) was significant (R(2) = 0.11). A number of maternal behaviors, social-cognitive and parenting correlates were found to be significantly associated with daughters' physical activity. Experimental studies are warranted, targeting mothers as the primary agents of change to increase physical activity among girls.