Parent-adolescent correlation of physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and sleep

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between parent and adolescent levels of physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and sleep among a group of overweight and obese adolescents.

Methods: Baseline data of parent-adolescent pairs who enrolled in an E-health lifestyle modification intervention were analyzed for this paper (n=176). Participants completed questionnaires about their sedentary behaviors (tv, video game, and computer time), wore an accelerometer for eight days, and completed a sleep diary for 1 week. In total, 100 parent adolescent pairs provided valid data for the analyses. Data from the accelerometers were used to calculate minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA), step counts, and sedentary time. Multivariable regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between parents and adolescents. Analysis was split by weekday and weekend.

Results: On average, adolescents had more minutes of MVPA (27 vs. 23), steps (8101 vs. 7463), and hours of sleep (9.6 vs. 8.5) and spent less time sedentary (61.5% vs. 62.8%) than their parents. Parent-adolescent MVPA was significantly associated on weekdays (b: 0.224; SE: 0.108; β: 0.241) and weekends (b: 0.296; SE: 0.126; β: 0.267). Parent-adolescent step counts were only associated on weekends (b: 0.257; SE: 0.124; β: 0.229). Adolescent sedentary behaviors were not associated with parental sedentary behaviors. Adolescent sleep was associated with parental sleep on weekdays (b: 0.402; SE: 0.084; β: 0.483).

Conclusions: Parent and adolescent levels of physical activity and sleep were correlated. Interventions targeting lifestyle modifications of overweight and obese adolescents may benefit by also modifying parental behaviors.