Deborah Goodman1, Hannah L Park1, Marcia Stefanick2, Erin LeBlanc3, Jennifer Bea4, Lihong Qi5, Kristopher Kapphahn2, Michael Lamonte6, Tood Manini7, Manisha Desai2, Hoda Anton-Culver1. 1. Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, USA. 2. S Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, USA. 3. Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente, Portland, USA. 4. Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona, USA. 5. Department of Public Health, University of California Davis, Sacramento, USA. 6. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, USA. 7. Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that childhood physical activity may play a role in the etiology and prevention of adult chronic diseases. Because researchers must often depend on self-recalled physical activity data many years after the exposure, it is important to understand factors which may influence adult recall of childhood physical activity. This study evaluated the influence of adult characteristics on reported childhood physical activity and the association between adult physical activity and self-recalled childhood physical activity. METHODS: 48,066 post-menopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study reported their physical activity level during ages 5 - 9, 10 - 14, and 15 - 19. RESULTS: In this cohort, over 65% of the population reported the same category of physical activity over the three childhood age groups. While higher levels of childhood physical activity were significantly associated with higher adult physical activity, this association varied by race/ethnicity, education, smoking, body mass index, history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease, social support and physical functional status. Women who were consistently highly active reported adult physical activity levels that were 2.82 MET-hr/week (95% C.I. = 2.43, 3.20) higher compared to women who were always physically inactive during childhood. CONCLUSIONS: It is important for researchers to understand the influence of adult characteristics on reported childhood physical activity.
BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that childhood physical activity may play a role in the etiology and prevention of adult chronic diseases. Because researchers must often depend on self-recalled physical activity data many years after the exposure, it is important to understand factors which may influence adult recall of childhood physical activity. This study evaluated the influence of adult characteristics on reported childhood physical activity and the association between adult physical activity and self-recalled childhood physical activity. METHODS: 48,066 post-menopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study reported their physical activity level during ages 5 - 9, 10 - 14, and 15 - 19. RESULTS: In this cohort, over 65% of the population reported the same category of physical activity over the three childhood age groups. While higher levels of childhood physical activity were significantly associated with higher adult physical activity, this association varied by race/ethnicity, education, smoking, body mass index, history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease, social support and physical functional status. Women who were consistently highly active reported adult physical activity levels that were 2.82 MET-hr/week (95% C.I. = 2.43, 3.20) higher compared to women who were always physically inactive during childhood. CONCLUSIONS: It is important for researchers to understand the influence of adult characteristics on reported childhood physical activity.
Authors: Marian L Neuhouser; Chongzhi Di; Lesley F Tinker; Cynthia Thomson; Barbara Sternfeld; Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani; Marcia L Stefanick; Stacy Sims; J David Curb; Michael Lamonte; Rebecca Seguin; Karen C Johnson; Ross L Prentice Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2013-02-22 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Kelly R Evenson; Sara Wilcox; Mary Pettinger; Robert Brunner; Abby C King; Anne McTiernan Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2002-11-15 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: S N Blair; M Dowda; R R Pate; J Kronenfeld; H G Howe; G Parker; A Blair; F Fridinger Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 1991-02-01 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Robert G McMurray; Dianne S Ward; John P Elder; Leslie A Lytle; Patricia K Strikmiller; Christopher D Baggett; Deborah R Young Journal: Am J Health Behav Date: 2008 Sep-Oct