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Exploring Influences on Parent, Child, and Joint Physical Activity Among Inactive Parent-Child Dyads: A Qualitative Study.

Weldon T Green,D. Phipps,M. Saarinen,T. Lintunen,M. Hagger,K. Knittle

Published 2025 in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology (JSEP)

ABSTRACT

Physical activity levels decline as children transition into adolescence. Preventing this trend may contribute to beneficial physical activity patterns later in life. Examining children's and parents' beliefs and behaviors can provide insight for designing (family-based) physical activity interventions. Groups of inactive parent-child dyads (N = 48) were interviewed about their dyadic and individual experiences of physical activity; salient psychological, social, and environmental factors; and ideas about how to improve their physical activity participation. The interviews were analyzed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis. Enjoyment was a key motivator of participant physical activity and required physical activity was also enjoyable. Lack of time, lack of self-control, and screen time were identified as barriers, and participants noted a loss of coactivity. The findings suggest avenues and preferences for future interventions, including fostering autonomous motivation, supporting the internalization of controlled forms of motivation, increasing opportunities for physical activity, and developing action control skills.

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