[Latent profiles of family support for physical activity and their differential associations with adolescent moderate-to-vigorous physical activity].

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the different types of the family support environment for physical activity in teenagers in Tianjin, and clarify its association with the hierarchical exposure-to-health effect to meet moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) requirement. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to November 2023 in Tianjin, involving 3 787 adolescents selected by stratified cluster random sampling from 10 local secondary schools, the valid response rate was 96.4%. Parental behaviors were evaluated by using the Adolescent Physical Activity Support Scale-Chinese Version. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify the types of family support. MVPA was evaluated by using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, and complicnce to WHO guidelines (≥60 minutes/day) was defined as meeting MVPA requirement. Log-binomial regression model (with stepwise adjustment for sociodemographic covariates) was used to analyze the association between the family support types and meeting MVPA requirement. Results: LPA identified four family support types: harmonious-active (35.0%), high-control/restrictive (26.9%), father-dominant (22.0%), and support-deficient (16.1%). The meeting rate of MVPA requirement showed a significant gradient distribution (all P<0.001): harmonious-active (59.0%), father-dominant (53.8%), high-control/restrictive (40.4%), support-deficient (29.9%). Log-binomial regression analysis showed that, after using "support-deficient type" as the reference and adjusting for covariates, the prevalence ratios (PR) for adolescents meeting MVPA requirement in the harmonious-active type, father-dominant type, and high-control-restraint type were 1.81 (95%CI: 1.58-2.08), 1.69 (95%CI: 1.46-1.96), and 1.29 (95%CI: 1.10-1.51), respectively, with all associations being significant (all P<0.01). Conclusions: The type of the family support to physical activity is a crucial proximal environmental variable influencing performance of MVPA in adolescents. Public health interventions should prioritize the design of targeted strategies.