Key messages:
- Adolescents who participate in family physical activity are more likely to meet the recommended guideline of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day and limit their recreational screen time to two hours or less per day.
- Adolescents who frequently engage in physical activities with their parents report better mental health, lower anxiety and depression symptoms, higher life satisfaction, and reduced stress.
Background
Adolescents who participate in physical activity tend to experience better mental health outcomes. However, the rising rates of physical inactivity, combined with increased screen time among young people, are becoming a significant concern. Parents have a crucial role in influencing their adolescents’ levels of physical activity and screen time through their active participation and involvement.
Objective
This study examined the relationships between family physical activity and adolescents’ adherence to guidelines for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and recreational screen time, as well as their mental health, using a large and nationally representative sample.
Methods
This nationally representative cross-sectional study utilized self-reported data from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth. The outcome measures included whether participants achieved the recommendations for physical activity (60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day) and recreational screen time (two hours or less per day), as well as various mental health indicators. Logistic regression analyses examined the relationships between the frequency of family physical activity and the adolescents’ levels of physical activity, screen time, and mental health, while controlling for relevant covariates.
Results
In adjusted models, results showed that a higher frequency of family physical activity was associated with better outcomes in a dose-response relationship compared with never engaging in family physical activity. The strongest associations for the daily frequency of family physical activity were with high life satisfaction and high perceived mental health. Subgroup analyses stratified by gender were generally consistent with the main results.
Conclusion
Findings from this study indicate a significant positive association between higher frequency of adolescent physical activity with their parents and higher physical activity levels, lower recreational screen time, and improved mental health outcomes. A dose-response relationship was identified, suggesting that increased family physical activity is linked to more favourable mental health outcomes. These results underscore the importance of promoting family physical activity during adolescence.
