Parent Reports of Physical Activity and Screen Time Behaviors in a Recent National Survey of the Military Population

• Activity Number: 549
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2014 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Social Statistics Section
• Author(s): Charlotte Cabili*+
• Companies: Mathematica Policy Research
• Keywords: physical activity ; children ; national surveys ; national guidelines

Abstract

This presentation discusses the methods and findings from a 2012 survey administered to parents of children and adolescents ages 2 to 18 who are eligible for health care coverage through the U.S. military health system (MHS). Focusing on recommended physical activity behaviors, such as 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity and less than two hours of daily screen time, this presentation discusses how the prevalence of children's behaviors compare to national guideline recommendations and data from national surveys. Further, we discuss population characteristics and methodological factors that may contribute to similarities and differences between MHS children and adolescents and those sampled in nationally surveys. One key methodological factor is how the physical activity is being reported-by parents or by the children and adolescents themselves.