Higher maternal physical fitness is associated with a more favorable 24-hour movement behavior profile in preschool children, including greater sleep duration, higher physical activity, and lower sedentary time.
In a cross-sectional study of 161 preschool children aged 4-6 years, maternal physical fitness (moderate vs. low) was associated with increased child sleep duration (β=0.41 h/night), higher total physical activity (β=60.70 min/day), higher light physical activity (β=32.80 min/day), higher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (β=27.88 min/day), and lower sedentary time (β=-52.70 min/day). No significant associations were found for paternal physical fitness or parental moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with child anthropometry, motor competence, or physical fitness.
Evidence Score
Study Evidence
Study 1. Associations of parental physical activity and physical fitness with motor competence, physical fitness, anthropometry, and 24-hour movement behaviors in preschool children: A cross-sectional study.
observationalAlonso-Martínez L, Ramírez-Vélez R, Duncan M, Izquierdo M, Alonso-Martínez A · Journal of exercise science and fitness (2026)
Result:
Mechanism Graph
Limitations
- ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
- ⚠Small sample size and potential selection bias due to voluntary participation
Frequently Asked Questions
Does parental physical activity directly improve children's motor skills or fitness?▼
No, this study found no significant associations between parental moderate-to-vigorous physical activity or physical fitness and children's motor competence, physical fitness, or anthropometry.
What specific child behaviors were associated with higher maternal fitness?▼
Children of mothers with moderate vs. low physical fitness showed greater sleep duration, higher total physical activity, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and lower sedentary time.
Was there any effect of paternal physical activity on children?▼
Yes, higher paternal moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was positively associated with child total physical activity and light physical activity, but not with other outcomes.
What does this study suggest for parental involvement in children's health?▼
The findings suggest that focusing on child-level and setting-level strategies for movement opportunities may be more effective than solely targeting parental physical activity or fitness.
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References
- 1.Alonso-Martínez L, Ramírez-Vélez R, Duncan M, Izquierdo M, Alonso-Martínez A. "Associations of parental physical activity and physical fitness with motor competence, physical fitness, anthropometry, and 24-hour movement behaviors in preschool children: A cross-sectional study.." Journal of exercise science and fitness, 2026. PMID: 42471916 DOI: 10.1016/j.jesf.2026.200494