Parental education, Family Health Climate and accelerometer-based measured physical activity and sedentary behavior of primary school-aged children.

Introduction: Sociodemographic factors such as parental education level (ED) influence the physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SED) of primary school-aged children. In this context, family factors, such as the physical activity-related Family Health Climate (FHC_PA), are relevant. However, the effect of FHC_PA on the interaction between ED and children's activity behavior has not yet been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the mediating effect of FHC_PA on the relation between parental ED and children's device-based measured PA and SED.

Methods: A total of 94 children and their parents participated in the study. Questionnaires were used to assess parental ED and FHCPA. Children's moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and SED were measured using accelerometers. Bivariate correlations were conducted to investigate associations between parental ED and MVPA/SED/FHC_PA. Mediation analyses were used to investigate the role of FHCPA in the association between maternal and paternal ED and children's MVPA/SED. Results indicate a small correlation between maternal ED and FHC_PA for the total sample (ρ = 0.318, p < 0.001) and a medium correlation for girls only (ρ = 0.570, p < 0.001). Mediation analyses showed no significant mediation effect. However, there was a significant direct association when considering FHC_PA in the relation between higher maternal ED and SED in girls compared to lower ED.

Discussion: Future research should examine more complex models to further develop and refine to facilitate the derivation of more effective recommendations for health prevention programs, particularly for mothers and girls.