Associations between a mother's own activity levels and her self efficacy and intentions for her child's physical activity

e198

Abstracts / Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 12 (2010) e1–e232

walking and neighbourhood safety for boys, and being a member of a sports team at school, feeling safe to walk alone and peer support for physical activity for girls. These findings can be used to guide strategies to increase active travel to and from school by targeting modifiable factors such as team participation and family support for physical activity. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.412 412 Invited Associations between a mother’s own activity levels and her self efficacy and intentions for her child’s physical activity K. Hesketh 1,∗ , K. Campbell 1 , D. Crawford 1 , J. Salmon 1 , K. Ball 1 , S. McNaughton 1 , Z. McCallum 2 1 Deakin 2 Royal

University Children’s Hospital, Melbourne

Introduction: It is well established that parental and child physical activity levels are associated. However it is unclear whether parental activity levels influence parenting intentions with regard to children’s physical activity. The objective of this study was to assess whether a mother’s own level of activity was associated with her intentions and self efficacy for encouraging her child’s physically active play and limiting television viewing. Methodology: First-time mothers of pre-mobile infants (aged 3 months) completed a questionnaire reporting their own physical activity levels (Active Australia Survey) and television viewing time. They also reported their intentions (16 questions) and self efficacy (6 questions) for encouraging their child’s physically active play and limiting television viewing. Regression analyses were used to investigate associations. Results: Data from 465 mothers indicated there was a wide range of activity levels. Mothers spent an average of 29 h per week watching television and 8 h being physically active with 88% of mothers reporting sufficient physical activity (defined as at least 150 min of activity per week). Higher levels of maternal physical activity were significantly associated with greater self efficacy for promoting physically active play and limiting television viewing for their infants over the coming 12 months. Higher levels of maternal physical activity were also significantly associated with parental intentions that their baby will have ample opportunities for physically active play, but not associated with intentions for television viewing. Mothers’ own television viewing was not associated with her self efficacy for promoting physically active play or limiting television viewing for her infant, or with her intentions regarding her child’s physically active play. However, mothers who spent more time watching television were significantly more likely to think their baby would watch

television every day and significantly more likely to intend to have the television on while their baby is eating. Conclusions: A mother’s own physical activity levels, but not television viewing time, appear to influence both her intentions and her self efficacy for promoting physically active play and limiting television viewing. It is possible that the greater heterogeneity in maternal physical activity levels (compared with television viewing time) distinguishes those mothers who are more aware of the importance of promoting physical activity and limiting television viewing and more confident in their ability to influence these behaviours in their young children. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.413 413 Invited Making tracks2school-Can we rely on key intermediaries (school teachers) to effectively deliver a comprehensive school-based walking and cycling program to primary school students? V. Beal 1,∗ , A. Sheppard 1 , M. Rosenberg 2 , T. Shilton 1 1 Heart 2 Edith

Foundation Cowan University

Introduction: The make tracks2school program adopted a comprehensive health promoting schools approach to increase walking and cycling to school amongst primary school students in Years 5-7 in Western Australia. A key program component was the use of intermediaries (school teachers) to deliver the intervention to the target group. The program was complemented by a social marketing campaign targeting parents through radio and print advertising and distribution of a parent brochure through schools. Methodology: A comprehensive communication strategy was developed to maximise participation amongst primary schools. The program was closely linked to the K-10 school syllabus and schools were offered two participation options. Option 1 involved student participation in active transport in combination with curriculum activities while Option 2 encouraged students to be active through curriculum activities only. A multi-faceted evaluation design was developed to assess how well the intervention was implemented by teachers, as well as any changes in parent attitudes and children’s attitudes and behaviour. Teacher feedback forms, student surveys and student travel data recorded on classroom wall charts were used to measure change. Results: Approximately 4800 students in 180 classrooms across 54 primary schools registered to participate in the program from a possible 923 eligible schools. From the available data returned by schools, there was a 7.1% increase in the proportion of students who walked to school and a 2.2% increase in the number of students who cycled to school the week fol-