Abstract
Objectives Despite the known benefits of physical activity
(PA) to physical and mental health, many people fail to
achieve recommended PA levels. Parents are less active
than non-parent contemporaries and constitute a large
potential intervention population. However, little is known
about the breadth and scope of parental PA research. This
scoping review therefore aimed to provide an overview of
the current evidence base on parental PA.
Methods Four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO
and Scopus) were systematically searched to identify
peer-reviewed articles focusing on parental PA from
2005 onwards, including interventional, observational or
qualitative study designs. Title and abstract screening was
followed by duplicate full-text screening. Data extracted
for all articles (100% checked by a second reviewer)
included study design, proportion of fathers and ages
of children. For interventional/observational studies, PA
assessment method and factors examined or targeted
based on the socio-ecological model were extracted, and
questions addressed in qualitative studies.
Results Of 14 913 unique records retrieved, 213 articles
were included; 27 articles reported on more than one
study design; 173 articles reported on quantitative (81
cross-sectional, 26 longitudinal and 76 interventional)
and 58 on qualitative data. Most articles originated from
North America (62%), and 53% included only mothers,
while 2% included only fathers. Articles most frequently
represented parents of infants (56% of articles), toddlers
(43%), preschoolers (50%) and primary-school aged
children (49%). Most quantitative articles only reported
self-reported PA (70%). Observational articles focused
on individual correlates/determinants (88%). Likewise,
most interventions (88% of articles) targeted individual
factors. Most qualitative articles explored PA barriers and
facilitators (57%).
Conclusions A range of quantitative and qualitative
research has been conducted on parental PA. This review
highlights opportunities for evidence synthesis to inform
intervention development (such as barriers and facilitators
of parental PA) and identifies gaps in the literature, for
example, around paternal PA.
(PA) to physical and mental health, many people fail to
achieve recommended PA levels. Parents are less active
than non-parent contemporaries and constitute a large
potential intervention population. However, little is known
about the breadth and scope of parental PA research. This
scoping review therefore aimed to provide an overview of
the current evidence base on parental PA.
Methods Four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO
and Scopus) were systematically searched to identify
peer-reviewed articles focusing on parental PA from
2005 onwards, including interventional, observational or
qualitative study designs. Title and abstract screening was
followed by duplicate full-text screening. Data extracted
for all articles (100% checked by a second reviewer)
included study design, proportion of fathers and ages
of children. For interventional/observational studies, PA
assessment method and factors examined or targeted
based on the socio-ecological model were extracted, and
questions addressed in qualitative studies.
Results Of 14 913 unique records retrieved, 213 articles
were included; 27 articles reported on more than one
study design; 173 articles reported on quantitative (81
cross-sectional, 26 longitudinal and 76 interventional)
and 58 on qualitative data. Most articles originated from
North America (62%), and 53% included only mothers,
while 2% included only fathers. Articles most frequently
represented parents of infants (56% of articles), toddlers
(43%), preschoolers (50%) and primary-school aged
children (49%). Most quantitative articles only reported
self-reported PA (70%). Observational articles focused
on individual correlates/determinants (88%). Likewise,
most interventions (88% of articles) targeted individual
factors. Most qualitative articles explored PA barriers and
facilitators (57%).
Conclusions A range of quantitative and qualitative
research has been conducted on parental PA. This review
highlights opportunities for evidence synthesis to inform
intervention development (such as barriers and facilitators
of parental PA) and identifies gaps in the literature, for
example, around paternal PA.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | BMJ open |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Mar 2020 |
