Abstract

Introduction

Physical fitness is an important indicator of current and future health status. This analysis examines the relationships among child-parent dyads in physical fitness measures.

Methods

The analysis is based on biological child-parent dyads from three cycles of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (Cycle 1: 2007 to 2009, Cycle 2: 2009 to 2011, and Cycle 5: 2016 to 2017). Physical fitness components—cardiorespiratory (CRF) (n = 615), muscular strength (n = 1,319) and flexibility (n = 1,295)—were measured at mobile examination centres using standardized fitness tests. Descriptive, correlation and regression analyses were used to examine relationships among child-parent dyads.

Results

CRF (R = 0.12), muscular strength (R = 0.23) and flexibility (R = 0.22) measures were weakly correlated among child-parent dyads. Modest increases in the physical fitness levels of children were observed with increases in the fitness rating scores of their parents. According to unadjusted and adjusted regression models, CRF (p< 0.05), muscular strength (p< 0.001) and flexibility (p< 0.001) were positively associated among child-parent dyads. When examined by sex of parent and child, CRF was significantly associated in mother-son dyads only, grip strength was associated in all dyad types except father-son pairings, and flexibility was associated in mother-son and father-son pairings only.

Interpretation

A significant and positive association was evident in measured physical fitness among parents and children. Some variation in the presence and strength of associations existed according to child and parent sex.

Keywords

dyad, health, cardiorespiratory, muscular strength, flexibility

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x202100100001-eng

Findings

The physical fitness (i.e., the ability to perform physical activity) of Canadian children declined from 1980 to 2007, and then remained relatively stable from 2007 to 2017. High physical fitness is associated with many health benefits and is an important indicator of future health status among children. The interrelationships among fitness, obesity, physical activity and health are well established, and are sensitive to a myriad of socioeconomic influences. The health status and lifestyle habits of parents have been proposed as important sources of influence. [Full article]

Authors

Rachel C. Colley (rachel.colley@canada ) is with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada. Janine Clarke and Caroline Y. Doyon are with the Centre for Population Health Data at Statistics Canada. Ian Janssen is with the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies and Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University. Justin J. Lang is with the Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch at PHAC and the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute. Brian W. Timmons is with the Child Health and Exercise Medicine Program, Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University. Mark S. Tremblay is with the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the CHEO Research Institute.

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