ORIGINAL PAPER
Associations between physical activity, screen time, and friends’ social network in a sample of Greek-Cypriot primary school children
 
More details
Hide details
1
Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, Nicosia, Cyprus
 
 
Submission date: 2024-05-24
 
 
Acceptance date: 2024-08-22
 
 
Publication date: 2024-09-30
 
 
Corresponding author
Constantinos A. Loucaides   

Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, Kimonos and Thoukydidou, Akropoli, 2006, Nicosia, Cyprus
 
 
Hum Mov. 2024;25(3):43-53
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
This study aimed to examine: (1) associations between children’s physical activity, screen time, and their friends’ respective behaviours, and (2) whether a child’s popularity is associated with his/her physical activity and screen time.

Methods:
Participants included 136 children (37.5% boys and 62.5% girls) with a mean age of 11.8 years. Children wore a pedometer for four weekdays to assess physical activity and completed a diary relating to the time spent in three screen time activities. They also nominated three friends for school and out-of-school hours.

Results:
Bivariate associations between school physical activity and friends’ physical activity ranged from r = 0.27 (p < 0.05) to r = 0.47 (p < 0.05) and for the whole day from r = 0.27 (p < 0.05) to r = 0.40 (p < 0.001). At the multivariate level, boys’ and girls’ physical activity was associated with the physical activity of their best friend, explaining 42% and 11%, respectively, of the variance for school, and 11% and 9% of the variance, respectively, for whole day physical activity. In the boys’ analyses, time per day playing electronic games was associated with the child’s popularity, explaining 42% of the variance.

Conclusions:
Children’s physical activity is associated with the physical activity of their best friends, while among boys, time playing electronic games is associated with their popularity. Targeting children’s friendship networks may help promote physical activity for both boys and girls and may help reduce time spent on electronic games among boys.

 
REFERENCES (40)
1.
Poitras VJ, Gray CE, Borghese MM, Carson V, Chaput JP, Janssen I, Katzmarzyk PT, Pate RR, Gorber SC, Kho ME, Sampson M, Tremblay MS. Systematic review of the relationships between objectively measured physical activity and health indicators in school-aged children and youth. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016;41(6 Suppl 3):197–239; doi: 10.1139/apnm-2015-0663.
 
2.
Bull FC, Al-Ansari SS, Biddle S, Borodulin K, Buman MP, Cardon G, Carty C, Chaput J-P, Chastin S, Chou R, Dempsey PC, DiPietro L, Ekelund U, Firth j, Friedenreich CM, Garcia L, Gichu M, Jago R, Katzmarzyk PT, Lambert E, Leitzmann M, Milton K, Ortega FB, Ranasinghe C, Stamatakis E, Tiedemann A, Troiano RP, van der Ploeg HP, Wari V, Willumsen JF. World Health Organization 2020 guidelines, on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54(24): 1451–62; doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955.
 
3.
Carson V, Hunter S, Kuzik N, Gray CE, Poitras VJ, Chaput JP, Saunders TJ, Katzmarzyk PT, Okely AD, Gorber SC, Kho ME, Sampson M, Lee H, Tremblay MS. Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in school-aged children and youth. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016;41(6 Suppl 3):240–65; doi: 10.1139/apnm- 2015-0630.
 
4.
Aubert S, Brazo-Sayavera J, Gonzalez SA, Janssen I, Manyanga T, Oyeyemi AL, Picard P, Sherar LB, Turner E, Tremblay MS. Global prevalence of physical activity for children and adolescents; inconsistencies, research gaps, and recommendations: a narrative review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021;18(1):81; doi: 10.1186/s12966-021- 01155-2.
 
5.
Jago R, Solomon-Moore E, MacDonald-Wallis C, Sebire SJ, Thompson JL, Lawlor DA. Change in children’s physical activity and sedentary time between year 1 and year 4 of primary school in the B-PRO ACT1V cohort. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14(1):33; doi: 10.1186/s12966-017-0492-0.
 
6.
Martins J, Rodrigues A, Marques A, Cale L, Carreiro da Costa F. Adolescents’ experiences and perspectives on physical activity and friend influences over time. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2021;92(3): 399–410; doi: 10.1080/02701367.2020.1739607.
 
7.
Mendonca G, Cheng LA, Melo EN, de Farias Júnior JC. Physical activity and social support in adolescents: a systematic review. Health Educ Res. 2014;29(5):822–39; doi: 10.1093/her/cyu017.
 
8.
Montgomery SC, Donnelly M, Bhatnagar P, Carlin A, Kee F, Hunter RF. Peer social network processes and adolescent health behaviors: a systematic review. Prev Med. 2020;130:105900; doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105900.
 
9.
Prochnow T, Delgado H, Patterson MS, Umstattd Meyer MR. Social network analysis in child and adolescent physical activity research: a systematic literature review. J Phys Act Health. 2019;17(2): 250–60; doi: 10.1123/jpah.2019-0350.
 
10.
Stearns JA, Godley J, Veugelers PJ, Ekwaru JP, Bastian K, Wu B, Wu B, Spence JC. Associations of friendship and children’s physical activity during and outside of school: a social network study. SSM Popul Health. 2019;7:100308; doi: 10.1016/ j.ssmph.2018.10.008.
 
11.
Salway RE, Sebire SJ, Solomon-Moore E, Thompson JL, Jago R. Associations within school-based, same-sex friendship networks of children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviours: a crosssectional social network analysis. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2018;15(1):18; doi: 10.1186/s12966- 018-0653-9.
 
12.
Swanson KC, Nettel-Aguirre A, McCormack GR. Popularity and friendships and their relationship to physical activity before and after transition to a higher school grade. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(15):2782; doi: 10.3390/ ijerph16152782.
 
13.
Montgomery SC, Donnelly M, Badham J, Kee F, Dunne L, Hunter RF. A multi-method exploration into the social networks of young teenagers and their physical activity behavior. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):77; doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-10081-0.
 
14.
Marks J, de la Haye K, Barnett LM, Allender S. Friendship network characteristics are associated with physical activity and sedentary behavior in early adolescence. PLOS ONE. 2015;10(12): e0145344; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145344.
 
15.
Prochnow T, van Woudenberg TJ, Patterson MS. Network effects on adolescents’ perceived barriers to physical activity. J Phys Act Health. 2020;17(9): 889–94; doi: 10.1123/jpah.2019–0655.
 
16.
Sawka KJ, McCormack GR, Nettel-Aguirre A, Blackstaffe A, Perry R, Hawe P. Associations between aspects of friendship networks, physical activity, and sedentary behavior among adolescents. J Obes. 2014;632689; doi: 10.1155/2014/ 632689.
 
17.
Garcia JM, Agaronov A, Sirard JR, Whaley D, Rice DJ, Weltman A. Psychosocial and friend influences on objective sedentary behavior and screen time: a mixed methods analysis. J Phys Act Health. 2017;14(3):213–21; doi: 10.1123/jpah.2016-0035.
 
18.
Burahmah E, Shanmugam S, Stansfield B. Fullday physical activity and sedentary behaviour levels of typically developing children and adolescents in the Middle East: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(20): 6940; doi: 10.3390/ijerph20206940.
 
19.
Ahrens W, Siani A, Adan R, De Henauw S, Eiben G, Gwozdz W, Hebestreit A, Hunsberger M, Kaprio J, Krogh V, Lissner L, Molnár D, Moreno LA, Page A, Picó C, Reisch L, Smith RM, Tornaritis M, Veidebaum T, Williams G, Pohlabeln H, Pigeot I; I.Family consortium. Cohort profile: the transition from childhood to adolescence in European children- how I.Family extends the IDEFICS cohort. Int J Epidemiol. 2017;46(5):1394–5j; doi: 10.1093/ ije/dyw317.
 
20.
Phillips SM, Summerbell C, Hobbs M, Hesketh KR, Saxena S, Muir C, Hillier-Brown FC. A systematic review of the validity, reliability, and feasibility of measurement tools used to assess the physical activity and sedentary behaviour of preschool aged children. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021;18(1):141; doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01132-9.
 
21.
Clemes SA, Biddle SJH. The use of pedometers for monitoring physical activity in children and adolescents: measurement considerations. J Phys Act Health. 2013;10(2):249–62; doi: 10.1123/ jpah.10.2.249.
 
22.
Trost SG, Pate RR , Freedson PS, Sallis JF, Taylor WC. Using objective physical activity measures with youth: how many days of monitoring are needed? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32(2):426–31; doi: 10.1097/00005768-200002000-00025.
 
23.
Rowe DA, Mahar MT, Raedeke TD , Lore J. Measuring physical activity in children with pedometers: reliability, reactivity, and replacement of missing data. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2004;16(4):343– 54; doi: 10.1123/PES.16.4.343.
 
24.
Edwardson CL, Gorely T, Pearson N, Atkin A. Sources of activity-related social support and adolescents’ objectively measured after-school and weekend physical activity: gender and age differences. J Phys Act Health. 2013;10(8):1153–8; doi: 10.1123/jpah.10.8.1153.
 
25.
Dolcini MM, Harper GW, Watson SE, Catania JA, Ellen JM. Friends in the ‘hood: should peer-based health promotion programs target nonschool friendship networks? J Adolesc Health. 2005;36(3):267. e6–e15; doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.10.003.
 
26.
Terwee CB, Bot SDM, de Boer MR, van der Windt DAWM, Knol DL, Dekker J, Bouter LM, de Vet HCW. Quality criteria were proposed for measurement properties of health status questionnaires. J Clin Epidemiol. 2007;60(1):34–42; doi: 10.1016/ j.jclinepi.2006.03.012.
 
27.
Hidding LM, Altenburg TM, Mokkink LB, Terwee CB, Chinapaw MJM. Systematic review of childhood sedentary behavior questionnaires: what do we know and what is next?. Sports Med. 2017;47(4):677–99; doi: 10.1007/s40279-016- 0610-1.
 
28.
Prince SA, LeBlanc AG, Colley RC, Saunders TJ. Measurement of sedentary behaviour in population health surveys: a review and recommendations. PeerJ. 2017;5:e4130; doi: 10.7717/peerj.4130.
 
29.
Prochnow T, Patterson M, Umstattd Meyer MR, Lightner J, Gomez L, Sharkey J. Conducting physically activity research on racially and ethnically diverse adolescents using social network analysis: case studies for practical use. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(18):11545; doi: 10.3390/ ijerph191811545.
 
30.
Rice E, Yoshioka-Maxwell A. Social network analysis as a toolkit for the science of social work. J Soc Social Work Res. 2015;6(3):369–83; doi: 10.1086/682723.
 
31.
Mason M, Mennis J, Way T, Light J, Rusby J, Westling E, Crewe S, Flay B, Campbell L, Zaharakis N, McHenry C. Young adolescents’ perceived activity space risk, peer networks, and substance use. Health Place. 2015;34:143–9; doi: 10.1016/j. healthplace.2015.04.005.
 
32.
Ommundsen Y, Gundersen KA, Mjaavatn PE. Fourth graders’ social standing with peers: a prospective study on the role of first grade physical activity, weight status, and motor proficiency. Scand J Educ Res. 2010;54(4):377–94; doi:10.1 080/00313831.2010.493344.
 
33.
Schofield L, Mummery KW, Schofield G, Hopkins, W. The association of objectively measured physical activity behavior among adolescent female friends. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2007;78(2):9– 15; doi: 10.1080/02701367.2007.10599398.
 
34.
Field A. Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics. Los Angeles: Sage Publications; 2018.
 
35.
Pawlowski CS, Tjørnhøj-Thomsen T, Schipperijn J, Troelsen J. Barriers for recess physical activity: a gender specific qualitative focus group exploration. BMC Public Health. 2014;14:639; doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-639.
 
36.
Thomas G, Bennie JA, De Cocker K, Castro O, Biddle SJH. A descriptive epidemiology of screenbased devices by children and adolescents: a scoping review of 130 surveillance studies since 2000. Child Ind Res. 2020;13:935–50; doi:10.1007/ s12187-019-09663-1.
 
37.
Sanders T, Noetel M, Parker P, Del Pozo Cruz B, Biddle S, Ronto R, Hulteen R, Parker R, Thomas G, De Cocker K, Salmon J, Hesketh K, Weeks N, Arnott H, Devine E, Vasconcellos R, Pagano R, Sherson J, Conigrave J, Lonsdale C. An umbrella review of the benefits and risks associated with youths’ interactions with electronic screens. Nat Hum Behav. 2024;8(1):82–99; doi: 10.1038/ s41562-023-01712-8.
 
38.
Rich-Edwards JW, Kaiser UB, Chen GL, Manson JE, Goldstein JM. Sex and gender differences research design for basic, clinical, and population studies: essentials for investigators. Endocr Rev. 2018;39(4):424–39; doi: 10.1210/er.2017-00246.
 
39.
Edwards MJ, Jago R, Sebire SJ, Kesten JM, Pool L, Thompson JL. The influence of friends and siblings on the physical activity and screen viewing behaviours of children aged 5–6 years: a qualitative analysis of parent interviews. BMJ Open. 2015;5(5):e006593; doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014- 006593.
 
40.
Moore SA, Cumming SP, Balletta G, Ramage K, Eisenmann JC, Baxter-Jones ADG, Jackowski SA, Sherar LB. Exploring the relationship between adolescent biological maturation, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour: a systematic review and narrative analysis. Ann Hum Biol. 2020;47(4):365–83; doi: 10.1080/03014460.2020. 1805006.
 
eISSN:1899-1955
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top