Parnell, M, Gee, I, Foweather, L, Whyte, G and Knowles, ZR (2021) Children of Smoking and Non-Smoking Households’ Perceptions of Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Exercise. Children, 8 (7). ISSN 2227-9067

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Abstract

Previous research has shown secondhand tobacco smoke to be detrimental to children’s health. This qualitative study aimed to explore children from low socioeconomic status (SES) families and their reasons for being physically active, attitudes towards physical activity (PA), fitness and exercise, perceived barriers and facilitators to PA, self-perceptions of fitness and physical ability, and how these differ for children from smoking and non-smoking households. A total of 38 children (9–11 years; 50% female; 42% smoking households) from the deprived areas of North West England participated in focus groups (n = 8), which were analysed by utilizing thematic analysis. The findings support hypothesised mediators of PA in children including self-efficacy, enjoyment, perceived benefit, and social support. Fewer than a quarter of all children were aware of the PA guidelines with varying explanations, while the majority of children perceived their own fitness to be high. Variances also emerged between important barriers (e.g., sedentary behaviour and environmental factors) and facilitators (e.g., psychological factors and PA opportunity) for children from smoking and non-smoking households. This unique study provided a voice to children from low SES and smoking households and these child perspectives could be used to create relevant and effective strategies for interventions to improve PA, fitness, and health.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Divisions:	Public Health Institute Sport & Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	MDPI
Date Deposited:	28 Jun 2021 11:59
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 05:18
DOI or ID number:	10.3390/children8070552
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15187

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