Parenting Styles and Children’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Among Latino Families

Parenting styles may shape children’s physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB), yet their associations with these behaviors among Latino families remain understudied. This study examined associations between parenting styles and children’s PA and SB. We used baseline data from an obesity-prevention program involving Latino children ages 5–10 and their parents. Parenting style constructs were assessed with a validated 10-item questionnaire. Children's PA was measured as the parent-reported number of days per week with at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and SB was assessed as daily sitting time on a 0–6 scale. Multiple linear regression was used to examine associations, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Among 297 parent-child dyads, parents averaged 35.8 years, and children averaged 8.1 years. Children engaged in MVPA on approximately 2 days per week and had a mean SB score of 2.2. Monitoring (β=.28; p<.01) and reinforcement (β=.20; p<.01) were positively associated with children’s MVPA. Limit setting (β=-.24; p<.01) and monitoring (β=-.15; p=.01) were inversely associated with SB, whereas control was positively associated with SB (β=.13; p=.04). These findings indicate that specific parenting styles are associated with children’s PA and SB. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to clarify these associations.