Social and family factors as determinants of exercise habits in Japanese elementary school children: a cross-sectional study from the Super Shokuiku School Project

The Physical and Athletic Aptitude Survey [1] conducted by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) indicates that there is a widening physical ability gap between children who engage in physical activity and those who do not [2]. Moreover, the number of children who do not exercise increases with age [3]. Such reductions may be associated with lower levels of motivation, emotional strength, and the ability to form interpersonal relationships. As a consequence, lack of physical activity may negatively influence psychosocial development [4]. The Japan Sports Agency has thus proposed a goal of increasing the rate of sports participation from 58.7 to 80% among junior high school students (aged between 13 and 15) while decreasing the percentage of them who dislike sports from 16.4 to 8% by the year 2022 [5]. In this context, it is important to research the reasons for the growing lack of physical activity and sedentary lifestyles among these children to determine what measures are needed to develop good exercise habits during early childhood.

Children are now spending less time playing outside and/or participating in sports. By contrast, they are spending longer hours indoors while watching television and playing video games. Many studies have linked such physical inactivity to overweight and obesity [6], peer problems [7], and school-avoidant emotions [8]. Further, children with overweight or obese mothers tend to engage in less physical activity and to spend more time watching television and playing game console or gaming device [9]. Similarly, children who are in poorer health and have parents that are heavy internet users tend to clock longer screen times [10]. These findings provide evidence that child health is significantly influenced by health-related parental behavior [9‐11]. Conversely, studies have reported that even short durations of physical activity effectively reduce anxiety and/or boost self-esteem [7], while consistent physical activity can help mitigate emotional problems [12]. Moreover, elementary schools that successfully reduced rates of child inactivity were also able to increase the number of students who enjoyed physical engagement [13]. This implies that physical activity can be encouraged through enjoyment, thus promoting wholesome physical and mental health while providing fulfilling school experiences.

Meanwhile, Japan has one of the highest rates of child poverty among all Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations. In this context in particular, widening socioeconomic disparities and their effects on child health are serious concerns [14, 15]. As such, health education in the school setting should make it possible for both parents and children to learn regardless of academic achievement [14] or socioeconomic status [14‐17]. These measures are now highly anticipated. Notably, previous studies have reported that lifestyle is a major influencing factor for children who dislike and lack physical activity [18, 19]. However, few studies have examined how these factors are related to the family environment and other social factors surrounding the child. This study therefore comprehensively investigated the factors related to both dislike of and lack of physical activity among Japanese children, including habits that relate to health and lifestyle, the family environment, and other social factors.

Table 1 shows the results for participant characteristics. Of the 2129 respondents who returned their questionnaires, 1721 (80.8%; 857 boys and 864 girls) answered all relevant items, and thus were included in our analysis. Regarding child physical activity, 13.7% of respondents (n = 235) did not like it, while 27.7% (n = 476) lacked physical activity. Regarding social background factors, the most frequent answers to the items assessing mothers’ employment status, family structure, and perceived family affluence were “part time,” “nuclear family,” and “neither,” respectively. Regarding parental lifestyles, the most frequent answers to the questions assessing parental internet use at home were “< 2 h,” and for parental (e.g., mother and father) health behaviors [10, 11] according to Breslow’s health score [26] were “father is middle” and “mother is middle,” respectively. There were no significant differences in mother’s employment status, family structure, perceived family affluence, father’s IU at home, father’s health behaviors, mother’s health behaviors, breakfast consumption, sleep duration, preference for physical activity, frequency of physical activity, cram school attendance, overall health, or understanding the school lessons by gender. However, girls were more likely than boys to communicate with their parents and have close friends, while boys were more likely to have ≥ 2 h screen time per day, and their mothers tended to use the internet at home longer per day than girls’ mothers.

Table 2 shows the results of logistic regression analyses conducted to determine the strengths of the associations between “do not like physical activity” and social background, parental lifestyles, child lifestyles, overall child health, and enrichment of school life. The multivariate analysis revealed the following results: “do not like physical activity” for children in middle grades (3rd and 4th graders, ages 8–10) (adjusted OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.59–3.58), high grades (5th and 6th, ages 10–13) (adjusted OR 2.73; 95% CI, 1.83–4.08), poor communication with parents (adjusted OR 1.57; 95% CI, 1.10–2.25), long screen times of child (adjusted OR 1.38; 95% CI, 1.02–1.87), and do not have close friends (adjusted OR 5.30; 95% CI, 2.78–10.1). Among the boys’ main characteristics were long screen times of child and not attending cram school, and among the girls, poor communication with parents. Among the potential determinants of disliking physical activity, lack of close friends and grades were common factors for all participants.

Table 3 shows the results of the logistic regression analyses conducted to determine the strengths of the associations between “lack of physical activity” and social background, parental lifestyles, child lifestyles, overall child health, and enrichment of school life. The multivariate analyses revealed the following associations with lack of physical activity: girls (adjusted OR 1.40; 95% CI, 1.11–1.76), middle grades (3rd and 4th graders, ages 8–10; adjusted OR 1.53; 95% CI, 1.15–2.04), high grades (5th and 6th graders, ages 10–13; adjusted OR 1.82; 95% CI, 1.37–2.41), unemployed mother (housewives; adjusted OR 1.91; 95% CI, 1.37–2.68), poor communication with parents (adjusted OR 1.59; 95% CI, 1.19–2.13), mothers with middle health behaviors (adjusted OR 1.50; 95% CI, 1.13–1.99), mothers with low health behaviors (adjusted OR 1.54; 95% CI, 1.07–2.20), long screen times of child (adjusted OR 1.47; 95% CI, 1.17–1.86), bad overall health (adjusted OR 1.66; 95% CI, 1.12–2.47), and lack of close friends (adjusted OR 5.40; 95% CI, 2.81–10.4). Among the boys’ associated characteristics were mothers with middle health behaviors, mothers with low health behaviors, and long screen times of child; and for girls’ characteristics, part-time-employed mother, unemployed mother (housewives), poor communication with parents, fathers with middle health behaviors, fathers with low health behaviors, long screen times of child, and bad overall health. Among the potential determinants of lack of physical activity, lack of close friends and long screen times were common factors for all participants.

While children who lacked physical activity comprised 27.7% of the total, more than half said that they like physical activity. However, many still did not engage in physical activity. In the analyses, we used the data of a total of 1486 participants (744 boys and 742 girls) who liked physical activity (Fig. 1). Table 4 shows the results of the logistic regression analysis conducted to determine the strengths of the associations between “lack of physical activity” regardless of “preference for physical activity” and social background, parental lifestyles, child lifestyles, overall child health, and enrichment of school life. The multivariate analyses revealed that girls (adjusted OR 1.52; 95% CI, 1.13–2.04), unemployed mothers (housewives; adjusted OR 2.30; 95% CI, 1.52–3.47), poor communication with parents (adjusted OR 1.50; 95% CI, 1.03–2.19), mothers with middle health behaviors (adjusted OR 1.55; 95% CI, 1.08–2.24), long screen times of child (adjusted OR 1.54; 95% CI, 1.15–2.08), and lack of close friends (OR 4.14; 95% CI, 1.80–9.51) were associated with “lack of physical activity” regardless of “preference for physical activity.” Among key characteristics, for boys they were non-affluence, and mothers with low health behaviors were key, while for girls they were middle grades, high grades, part-time-employed mothers, unemployed mothers (housewives), fathers with middle health behaviors, fathers with low health behaviors, and long screen times of child. Among the potential determinants of a lack of physical activity regardless of preference for physical activity, lack of close friends was a common factor for all participants.

We performed logistic regression analyses by stratified grade level (low: 1st and 2nd grades, middle: 3rd and 4th grades, high: 5th and 6th grades) and assessed the Hosmer−Lemeshow statistic, and the regression equation was judged to be invalid (data not shown). Table 5 shows the results of “have close friends,” analyzed by stratified grade. According to the results of a Chi-squared test, there was no significant differences in “have close friends” according to grade level.

Family structure, father’s IU at home in h/day, and breakfast consumption were not found to be significant in the univariate and multivariate analyses. The correlation coefficients between independent variables ranged from 0.000 to 0.323, indicating no multicollinearity. The Hosmer−Lemeshow tests validated the models.

Among the potential determinants of child exercise habits, this study revealed that a lack of close friends was likely the most influential factor for both disliking and lacking physical activity. Further, having close friends was independently associated with child exercise habits even after adjusting for other potential confounding factors, including the child’s social and family environment and child lifestyle factors.

Previous studies have shown that peer support is important for promoting exercise habits [7], while the presence of friends promotes activeness [30] and reduces time spent sitting [31]. Our findings showed that children with screen times of 2 or more hours per day were more likely to dislike and lack physical activity when compared to those with screen times of less than 2 h. Internet addiction and gaming disorders are both recognized by the World Health Organization [32]; recent surveys have also highlighted that these disorders especially affect young children, that it is more difficult for children than for adults to recover, and that experiences related to physical activity and increased peer communication are effective for prevention and treatment [33]. Offline interactions between children are becoming scarcer; as such, approaches to help them make friends and form childhood relationships are an essential educational goal. Schoolchildren evaluated these education models positively, and their consciousness about social behaviors changed positively [34]; however, according to a 2015 survey, compared to 1995, the number of friends with whom children play after school had decreased, the number of children who played with their mothers instead of friends increased [35]. These data suggest that the environment surrounding children is changing, and the opportunities for children to engage in physical activity with friends after school are decreasing. Since it has been reported that children’s peer relationships are enriched and expanded between the ages of 6−12 years [36], the definition of “having close friends” could vary for children of different ages. However, this study found no significant differences for “have close friends” according to grade level. Thus, it might be beneficial to have close friends from preschool years in the promotion of physical activity, although longitudinal research is necessary.

Family structure, father’s IU at home in h/day, and breakfast consumption were not significant in the univariate and multivariate analyses. This may be due to the difference between children with and without habits being very small. This study found family-related factors that influenced dislike and lack of physical activity, including having housewives, unhealthy parental lifestyles, and lack of communication with parents. Children in these groups were more often sedentary, even if they reported that they liked physical activity. This study also found that childhood exercise habits may be influenced by parent lifestyles and that children may be deficient in physical activity due to social and family factors even when they like physical activity. Previous studies have shown that families lacking in parent–child communication were more sedentary and had lower health satisfaction [22]; conversely, children who frequently talked with their parents had better bowel movements, indicating proper digestion [24]. Further, children develop an attachment to their parents through physical touch and communication [37], and healthy parent–child communication and healthy parental lifestyles are essential for childhood mental and physical health, as well as children’s development of healthy exercise habits.

This study found cross-gender associations (between father−daughter and mother−son pairs) between parental unhealthy lifestyles (as assessed using Breslow’s seven health-related behaviors) and lack of physical activity. It has been reported that mothers’ unhealthy lifestyles, as assessed using Breslow’s seven health-related behaviors, are associated with prolonged screen time in children [10]. Other studies using similar indicators have shown that children whose mothers have unhealthy lifestyles are more likely to be sedentary [22]. This is considered to reflect the important role mothers have in raising children in Japanese society [9]. However, children whose fathers have strong preferences for exercise have been shown to receive better exercise support than children whose fathers have no preference for exercise [38]. There were significant correlations found between physical activity in daughters and exercise support (e.g., parent–child co-activity, praising the child for being active) received from fathers [39]. Although further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms, fathers’ lifestyle factors (especially exercise habits) may influence their children’s engagement in physical activity.

Previous studies [9] have also reported that longer screen times, later bedtimes, and poorer lifestyle habits were more common among children with mothers who worked full-time. Conversely, more recent studies have shown that children with mothers who worked full-time have physical activity times, thus suggesting they were less affected by maternal employment status [24]. This study’s results further support the idea that maternal employment status and/or the way children spend their after-school hours have changed over time. For example, after-school clubs and services are now available [40] for children whose parents or legal guardians are away from home during the initial after-school hours. This is partially the result of the Act on the Promotion of Female Participation and Career Advancement in the Workplace, which was passed in August 2015. Further, a 2017 survey [41] indicated that such after-school clubs provide space for and promote physical activity. It is therefore possible that children with working mothers are becoming more able to engage in physical activity outside and with friends.

The UNICEF Report Card on Child Well-being in a Sustainable World [42] also suggested that family was the most important factor for childhood well-being, followed by friends and school. Perhaps the importance of close friends and family communication for developing good exercising habits, as found in our study, reflects the “wellness” that children in developed countries experience. Healthy exercise habits in childhood are most effectively promoted through experiencing a fulfilling school life; however, a child’s home life is also important. Activities after school and on weekends can be improved by promoting shorter screen times, better parental lifestyles, and improved parent–child communication. Previous research has shown significant correlations between children’s physical activity levels and parental support [38] or encouragement [39], suggesting the importance of family-based shared activity interventions for child development [39]. Thus, to increase children’s physical activity levels and create positive exercise habits, parental cooperation is necessary when developing strategies for such interventions.

This study has some limitations that should be noted. First, previous studies have noted that poor childhood exercise habits are common in low-income families [43]. In this study, although there was a significant difference found among boys, it was not very strong and varied depending on the number of participants. In a previous study using the same survey items, children’s longer screen time [10] and poor dietary habits [11] were associated with low family income. The survey used in this study was tailored toward the respondents and may not be able to grasp the economic situation; thus, further research is needed. Second, this study used a cross-sectional design that employed a self-report survey on exercise habits. Thus, a longitudinal survey is needed to investigate the causal relationships underlying these results, including the relationship between children’s physical activity and close friendship, and measure both the quality and quantity of children’s physical activity through objective indicators. Third, more detailed surveys on social context (e.g., community characteristics, maternal employment status, and social assistance) are required to investigate the measures best suited for community-specific needs.

This study investigated factors related to both dislike and lack of physical activity among schoolchildren as part of the Super Shokuiku School Project in Japan. “Lack of close friends” had the strongest links with both dislike and lack of physical activity. Children who engaged in long periods of screen time and lacked parental communication also tended to dislike and lack physical activity. Although a longitudinal study is needed to determine causality, substantial attention to children’s lifestyle behaviors after school may thus be required to promote physical activity. Further, to increase children’s engagement in physical activity, parental cooperation is warranted in intervention strategies.