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The role of parental support for youth physical activity transportation and community-level poverty in the healthy communities study

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Abstract

This study evaluates whether parental provision of transportation for physical activity is associated with child/adolescent moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, while also evaluating community-level poverty. Self- and parental-reported surveys were administered with parents/caregivers and children in the Healthy Communities Study (N = 5138). Associations between individual-level demographics, community-level poverty, parental provision of transportation for physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were examined in multi-level models. Even when accounting for community-level poverty, which was significantly associated with lower moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, parental provision of transportation for physical activity was positively associated with greater moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. This study provides evidence for the importance of considering multiple systems of influence (e.g., community and individual factors) and considering how gaps in physical activity transportation for youth can be addressed in future health policies.

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Funding

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health [Contract # HHSN268201000041C].

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Correspondence to Allison M. Sweeney.

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Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

The study was approved by the Battelle Memorial Institute IRB and all procedures were in accordance with ethical standards. Parents and children over the age of 8 provided written consent or assent.

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Sweeney, A.M., Wilson, D.K., Pate, R. et al. The role of parental support for youth physical activity transportation and community-level poverty in the healthy communities study. J Behav Med 44, 563–570 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-021-00213-1

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