| Objective To investigate the characteristics and the influencing factors of PA(physical activity,PA)among preschool children(3-6 years)by a self-developed questionnaire,and to explore the patterns of PA among the preschool children and the correlation between the patterns and the BMI of the children,which provided a convenient tool for measurement of PA among preschool children,and some advice for cultivation of good behavior and habits for PA among preschool children.Methods 1.Development of the questionnaire on characteristics and influencing factors of PA among preschool children By using the literature review,expert consultation,target group interviews,and brainstorming methods,the basic framework of the questionnaire,questions and answer options were formed,and then an initial questionnaire for PA of preschool children was formulated.Fifty 3-6 years old children’s caregivers were selected by convenient sampling method to fill in the initial questionnaire by one-to-one interviews.Furthermore,fifteen experts in the fields of children’s health,preschool education and other related fields were selected for group discussion on the initial questionnaire.Then the questionnaire was modified on the basis of the investigation and discussion results,and the questionnaire of characteristics and influencing factors of PA among preschool children was developed.2.Evaluation of the questionnaire The children(3-6 years)were investigated by using the designed questionnaire in the outpatient of Department of Pediatrics in a general hospital in Xi’an city.Thirty children were selected for retest two weeks later by convenient sampling method.The reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated using the Cronbach’s α coefficient,the split-half reliability coefficient and the test-retest reliability;and the validity was evaluated by the content validity ratio(CVR)on the basis of expert evaluation results.3.Influencing factors of PA among preschool children All PA items were divided into three categories: LPA(low intensity physical activity,LPA),MPA(moderate intensity physical activity,MPA)and VPA(vigorous physical activity,VPA),on the basis of investigation results and experts opinions.Based on the single factor analysis,multiple stepwise regression analysis w as used to explore the influencing factors of frequency and time about different intensity PA.4.Physical activity patterns and the correlation between BMI and physical activity patterns Factor analysis was used to explore the patterns of PA among preschool children,and the factors were included with factor loading above 0.4.Logistic regression and multiple linear regressions were used to explore the correlation between the factors score of different patterns and the BMI or overweight / obesity.Results 1.Development and evaluation of the questionnaire of PA among the preschool children The developed questionnaire of PA among the preschool children contained the basic information of children,family environment,outdoor and preschool facility,the habit and the perspective of the caregivers about the PA of preschool children,and the PA: running,walking,chasing,rope skipping,swimming,slide,swing,playing the ball,playing the role,hiding and seeking,playing games,playing sand,scooter,riding a bike,video games,watching TV,doing handwork,drawing,playing the piano,singing,dancing,listening stories.The content of survey included the weekly frequency in last month and the daily duration of PA.The questionnaire had good reliability and content validity.The Cronbach’s α coefficient of the questionnaire about PA was 0.805,the half-split coefficient was 0.772 and the test-retest reliability was 0.672;the Cronbach’s α coefficient of the questionnaire about environment of PA and perspective of caregivers was 0.865,split-half coefficient was 0.831,the test-retest reliability was 0.853.The CVR was 0.834 about PA and 0.867 about environment and perspective.2.The characteristics and the influencing factors of PA among the preschool children The participation rate of PA of preschool children showed diversity.The participation rates of walking,chasing,watching TV were more than 75%,rope skipping,swimming,video games,playing the piano were less than 25%,and the rest were between 25% and 75%.About the frequency and time,VPAs were different on the facility of PA,caregiver’s educational level,habit and perspective on PA in statistics(P<0.05),the frequency and time were more with better facility,higher educational level of caregiver,better the habit and perspective about PA;MPAs were different on the gender of children,residence,educational level of caregiver,habit and perspective of caregiver in statistics(P<0.05),the frequency and time were more when child was girl,the educational level of caregiver was high,the habit and perspective about PA was good,the time was more when the child lived in city;LPAs were different on gender,residence,facility of PA,educational level,habit and perspective of caregiver in statistics(P<0.05),the frequency was more when the child was girl,lived in city,the facility of PA was good,the educational level of caregiver was high,the habit and perspective about PA was good. The influencing factors of the frequency and time were analyzed by the multivariable linear regression on different intensity PA.The frequency and time of VPA were associated with outdoor and preschool environment of PA,educational level of caregiver,the habit and perspective of caregiver about PA(P<0.05),the frequency and time of VPA were more when the facility is good,educational level is high,the habit and perspective was good;MPA was associated with the gender of children,educational level of caregiver,habit and perspective of caregiver(P<0.05),the frequency and time of MPA were more when child was girl,the educational level of caregiver was high,the habit and perspective about PA was good;LPA was associated with the gender of children,educational level of caregiver,outdoor and preschool facility of PA(P<0.05),the frequency and time of LPA were more when child was girl,the educational level of caregiver was high,the outdoor and preschool facility of PA was good.3.The patterns of PA among the preschool children and the correlation between the patterns and the BMI of the children The pattern of PA was analyzed by factor analysis.Three common factors were extracted by the maximum variance rotation.The factor loading was more than 0.4 which included drawing,dancing,singing,doing handwork in factor 1,and the factor was named as skills training pattern.The factor loading was more than 0.4 which included playing games,hiding and seeking,playing the role,chasing,walking and running in factor 2,and the factor was named as preschool group PA pattern.The factor loading was more than 0.4 which included slide,swing,playing sand,riding a bike and scooter in factor 3,and the factor was named as outdoor PA pattern of family. Higher factor scores on the skills training pattern had higher risk of overweight or obese,the OR was 2.633 with 95%CI(1.066,6.504)by logistic regression.Furthermore,outdoor PA pattern of family had lower risk,the OR was 0.747 with 95%CI(0.387,0.984).Multivariable stepwise regression analysis showed that the correlation between PA patterns and preschoolers’ BMI has no statistical significance(p > 0.05).Conclusions1.This study developed the questionnaire of the characteristics and influencing factors of PA among the preschool children,which included 22 common physical activities.The questionnaire showed good reliability and validity,which can be used in the study of the characteristics and influencing factors of PA among children.2.The frequency and the time of the PA were influenced by the gender of children,outdoor and preschool facility of PA,educational level of the caregivers,the habit and perspective of caregiver about PA.The frequency and time of PA were more when the child was girl,the environment was good,educational level was high,the habit and perspective was good.3.The pattern of PA included skills training pattern,preschool group PA pattern and outdoor PA pattern of family.4.The skills training pattern with higher factor score had higher risk of overweight/obese,and outdoor PA pattern of family had lower risk. |
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