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Correlates of physical activity among First Nations children residing in First Nations communities in Canada

  • Quantitative Research
  • Published:
Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

Physical activity has numerous mental, emotional, spiritual and physical benefits. The factors influencing physical activity among First Nations children have not been well studied. The objective was to examine the associations between several intrapersonal, family and community factors and physical activity among First Nations school-aged children residing in First Nations communities.

Methods

Participants consisted of 3,184 children (6–11 years old) from the 2008/10 First Nations Regional Health Survey, a representative sample of First Nations persons who reside in on-reserve and northern First Nations communities. The survey addresses a holistic range of health issues. Primary caregivers completed interviews to assess each child’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), participation in traditional physical activities, six intrapersonal factors, four family factors and two community factors.

Results

Based on primary caregiver reports, 72% of children accumulated a daily average of >-60 minutes of MVPA and 54% participated in at least one traditional First Nations physical activity in the past year. Older age, having more people in the household, and having more relatives help the child understand their culture were independently associated with accumulating >-60 minutes of MVPA. School attendance, use of First Nations language, having parents with a high school education, smaller community size, and having more community members help the child understand their culture were independently associated with participation in traditional First Nations physical activities.

Conclusion

Among First Nations children, there are several correlates of physical activity from diverse ecological levels.

Résumé

Objectifs

L’activité physique a de nombreux avantages sur le plan mental, émotionnel, spirituel et physique. Les facteurs qui influencent l’activité physique chez les enfants des Premières Nations sont insuffisamment étudiés. Notre objectif était d’examiner les associations entre plusieurs facteurs intrapersonnels, familiaux et communautaires et l’activité physique chez les enfants des Premières Nations d’âge scolaire résidant dans des communautés des Premières nations.

Méthode

Les participants étaient 3 184 enfants (6–11 ans) de l’Enquête régionale longitudinale sur la santé des Premières Nations de 2008–2010, soit un échantillon représentatif de personnes des Premières Nations résidant dans les réserves et les communautés nordiques des Premières nations. L’enquête aborde un éventail complet de questions de santé. Les principales personnes à s’occuper des enfants se sont prêtées à des entretiens pour évaluer l’activité physique modérée à vigoureuse (APMV) de chaque enfant, sa participation aux activités physiques traditionnelles, six facteurs intrapersonnels, quatre facteurs familiaux et deux facteurs communautaires.

Résultats

D’après les principales personnes à s’occuper des enfants, 72 % des enfants accumulaient en moyenne >-60 minutes d’APMV par jour, et 54 % avaient pris part à au moins une forme d’activité physique traditionnelle des Premières Nations au cours de l’année écoulée. L’âge plus avancé, les ménages plus nombreux et le plus grand nombre de proches pouvant aider l’enfant à connaître sa culture étaient des facteurs indépendamment associés à l’accumulation de >-60 minutes d’APMV. La fréquentation scolaire, l’utilisation de langues des Premières Nations, l’instruction secondaire des parents, la taille plus petite de la communauté et le plus grand nombre de membres de la communauté pouvant aider l’enfant à connaître sa culture étaient des facteurs indépendamment associés à la participation aux formes traditionnelles d’activité physique des Premières Nations.

Conclusion

Chez les enfants des Premières Nations, il y a plusieurs corrélats de l’activité physique à divers niveaux écologiques.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    Ian Janssen PhD & Lucie Lévesque PhD

  2. Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Ian Janssen PhD

  3. First Nations Information Governance Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Fei Xu PhD

Authors
  1. Ian Janssen PhD
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  2. Lucie Lévesque PhD
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  3. Fei Xu PhD
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First Nations Information Governance Centre

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ian Janssen PhD.

Additional information

Source of support: Funding was provided by the First Nations Information Governance Centre.

Conflict of Interest: Ian Janssen and Lucie Lévesque received consulting fees from the First Nations Information Governance Centre. Fei Xu is employed by the First Nations Information Governance Centre.

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Janssen, I., Lévesque, L., Xu, F. et al. Correlates of physical activity among First Nations children residing in First Nations communities in Canada. Can J Public Health 105, e412–e417 (2014). https://doi.org/10.17269/cjph.105.4526

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/cjph.105.4526

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