Examining the relationship between children's health-related quality of life and their perception of parental support toward physical activity: A longitudinal study

Abstract

This study investigated how health-related quality of life (HRQOL) affected perception of parental support for physical activity (PA) in 529 children from the "Fun to Move@JC Project." They self-reported their HRQOL, PA enjoyment and motivation, barriers to PA, and attachment to parents in the first semester (Time 1) and perceived parental PA support in the second semester (Time 2). Mediation analyses were performed to examine the underlying mechanisms. Greater Time 1 HRQOL scores predicted higher Time 2 perceived parental PA support through PA enjoyment and motivation, barriers to PA, and attachment to parents at Time 1. The specific indirect effect via attachment to parents was particularly strong in girls, whereas the association of PA enjoyment with perceived parental PA support was stronger in boys. Our findings suggest that children with poor HRQOL may not perceive parents to be supportive of their PA. Interventions promoting parental PA support should emphasize PA enjoyment and benefits to attachment security for parents of boys and girls, respectively.

Keywords: barriers to physical activity; children; enjoyment of physical activity; health-related quality of life; parent physical activity support.