Socio-demographic characteristics of children experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage who meet physical activity and screen-time recommendations : the READI study

Objective - To identify socio-demographic characteristics of children from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods who meet physical activity and screen recommendations.
Method - Children aged 5–12 years (n = 373; 45% boys) were recruited in 2007 from socioeconomically disadvantaged urban and rural areas of Victoria, Australia. Children's physical activity, height and weight were objectively measured. Mothers reported their highest level of education, and proxy-reported their child's usual screen-time. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) examined odds of meeting physical activity (> 60 minutes/day) and screen (≤ 120 minutes/day) recommendations according to socio-demographic characteristics.
Results - Approximately 84% of children met physical activity and 43% met screen recommendations. Age was inversely associated with odds of meeting physical activity and screen recommendations, and overweight/obese status was associated with lower odds of meeting screen recommendations (boys: OR = 0.39, 95%CI = 0.16–0.95; girls: OR = 0.47, 95%CI = 0.26–0.83). Among boys, living in a rural area was positively associated with meeting screen recommendations (OR = 3.08, 95%CI = 1.42–6.64). Among girls, high levels of maternal education were positively associated with meeting screen recommendations (OR = 2.76, 95%CI = 1.33–5.75).
Conclusion - Specific socio-demographic characteristics were associated with odds of meeting physical activity and screen recommendations. Identifying factors associated with such ‘resilience’ among this group may provide important learnings to inform future physical activity promotion initiatives.