The Influence of Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Environmental Factors in Physical Activity Level Patterns During Childhood: A Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal associations of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors on physical activity (PA) patterns in children over a 4-year period.

METHODS

This longitudinal study used data from a balanced data set of 470 Brazilian children from the ELOS-Pré project. Data were collected in 3 waves (T1: 3-5 y; T2: 5-7 y; and T3: 7-9 y). Parent-reported PA time and ecological factors (child interest, parental support, and access to play areas) were analyzed using multilevel mixed-effects linear regressions.

RESULTS

At T1, parental support (B = 18.43 min/d) and access to play areas (B = 23.74 min/d) were associated with higher PA. At T2, child's interest (B = 23.96 min/d) and access to play areas (B = 20.85 min/d) were significant. No factors were associated with PA at T3. More critically, sustained positive exposures from T1 to T2, such as consistent interest or ongoing parental support, were associated with substantially more PA (37-43 additional min/d) compared with peers lacking these consistent factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Sustained positive supports across multiple ecological levels are more critical for promoting lasting PA during childhood than transient exposures. Interventions should focus on creating enduring supportive ecosystems for children.