The role of parenting in linking family socioeconomic disadvantage to physical activity in adolescence and young adulthood

Citation

Lee, Hedwig (2014). The role of parenting in linking family socioeconomic disadvantage to physical activity in adolescence and young adulthood. Youth and Society. vol. 46 (2) pp. 255-285

Abstract

Parents play an important role in influencing adolescent health behaviors and parenting practices may be an important pathway through which social disadvantage influences adolescent health behaviors that can persist into adulthood. This analysis uses the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to examine how parenting practices mediate the association between family socioeconomic disadvantage, measured as low parent education and family welfare/poverty status, and physical activity in adolescence and young adulthood for males and females. Results show that levels of parental control do not differ by family disadvantage. However, disadvantaged parents engage in lower levels of activities and communication with their children compared with nondisadvantaged parents. These behaviors serve to mediate the negative association between disadvantage and physical activity in adolescence, and are associated with physical activity in adulthood. Parenting is an important pathway through which disadvantage influences physical activity in adolescence and the transition to adulthood. © The Author(s) 2012.

URL

http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-84893628575&origin=SingleRecordEmailAlert&txGid=E2540E08822DBD5C25FD5031E3A93D3B.mw4ft95QGjz1tIFG9A1uw%3a8

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Youth and Society

Author(s)

Lee, Hedwig

Year Published

2014

Volume Number

46

Issue Number

2

Pages

255-285

DOI

10.1177/0044118X12470431

Reference ID

1744