The home physical activity environment as a potential mediator of the association between parental physical activity and preschoolers’ physical fitness: a cross-sectional study in urban China
- 1Xuzhou Kindergarten Teachers College
- 2Department of Public Culture, Nanchang Health Vocational and Technical College
- 3Faculty of Education, Nanchang Vocational University
Abstract
Introduction: Family-level associations with preschool children’s physical fitness remain incompletely understood.
Objective: This study examined cross-sectional associations among parental physical activity, the home physical activity environment (HPAE), and preschool children’s fitness, including a potential indirect association through the HPAE.
Methods: We recruited 568 parent–child dyads from 23 kindergartens in Nanchang, China, using multistage stratified random sampling. Parental activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, the HPAE using a purpose-developed 18-item scale, and children’s fitness using an adapted Chinese National Physical Fitness Measurement framework. Mediation analysis used 5,000 bootstrap resamples. The primary model controlled for parental education and family income. A sensitivity model additionally controlled for children’s outdoor activity, organized sport participation, and screen time.
Results: In the primary model, parental activity was positively associated with children’s fitness (path c, β = 0.167) and the HPAE (path a, β = 0.349), which was also associated with fitness (path b, β = 0.234; all p < 0.001). The indirect association was statistically significant (a × b = 0.081, 95% CI [0.055, 0.109]), and the direct association remained significant (path c′, β = 0.085, p = 0.006). The 48.9% mediated proportion applies only to the primary model. After additional adjustment for children’s outdoor activity, organized sport participation, and screen time, the estimated indirect association was close to zero and was not statistically significant (a × b = −0.002, 95% CI [−0.013, 0.007]).
Conclusion: The primary model showed a pattern of associations consistent with a potential pathway through the HPAE, but the indirect association was not robust to adjustment for child activity variables. These cross-sectional findings do not establish a mediation mechanism. Longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to clarify temporal ordering and evaluate potential intervention targets.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026home,
title = {{The home physical activity environment as a potential mediator of the association between parental physical activity and preschoolers’ physical fitness: a cross-sectional study in urban China}},
author = {Haiyun Li and Weilun Zhao and Xinyi Hu and Fang Wan and Pengpeng Dong and Weimin Zhang},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1880097},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1880097/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The home physical activity environment as a potential mediator of the association between parental physical activity and preschoolers’ physical fitness: a cross-sectional study in urban China
AU - Haiyun Li
AU - Weilun Zhao
AU - Xinyi Hu
AU - Fang Wan
AU - Pengpeng Dong
AU - Weimin Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1880097
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1880097/full
AB - Introduction: Family-level associations with preschool children’s physical fitness remain incompletely understood. Objective: This study examined cross-sectional associations among parental physical activity, the home physical activity environment (HPAE), and preschool children’s fitness, including a potential indirect association through the HPAE. Methods: We recruited 568 parent–child dyads from 23 kindergartens in Nanchang, China, using multistage stratified random sampling. Parental activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, the HPAE using a purpose-developed 18-item scale, and children’s fitness using an adapted Chinese National Physical Fitness Measurement framework. Mediation analysis used 5,000 bootstrap resamples. The primary model controlled for parental education and family income. A sensitivity model additionally controlled for children’s outdoor activity, organized sport participation, and screen time. Results: In the primary model, parental activity was positively associated with children’s fitness (path c, β = 0.167) and the HPAE (path a, β = 0.349), which was also associated with fitness (path b, β = 0.234; all p < 0.001). The indirect association was statistically significant (a × b = 0.081, 95% CI [0.055, 0.109]), and the direct association remained significant (path c′, β = 0.085, p = 0.006). The 48.9% mediated proportion applies only to the primary model. After additional adjustment for children’s outdoor activity, organized sport participation, and screen time, the estimated indirect association was close to zero and was not statistically significant (a × b = −0.002, 95% CI [−0.013, 0.007]). Conclusion: The primary model showed a pattern of associations consistent with a potential pathway through the HPAE, but the indirect association was not robust to adjustment for child activity variables. These cross-sectional findings do not establish a mediation mechanism. Longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to clarify temporal ordering and evaluate potential intervention targets.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -