Abstract P071: Child Enjoyment Sustains Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines Through Adolescence And Resulting Health Outcomes And Maintenance Of Fitness Activities In Young Adulthood
Authors: Ramer Jared , Koepp Andrew , Vandell Deborah 
Published: April 2022

Introduction:
The CDC considers physical activity (PA) to be a major contributive factor to prevention of many noncommunicable diseases. In order to educate and encourage citizens to practice healthy behaviors the CDC has created PA guidelines for preventing these diseases. Children and early adolescents tend to meet the recommended guidelines, but as individuals age, beginning as early as late adolescence, the proportion of those meeting guidelines tends to dissipate.

Hypothesis:
We assessed the hypothesis that independent variables would predict guideline maintenance through adolescence and young adult health outcomes through direct and indirect effects.

Methods:
Using data from the NICHD longitudinal Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (N = 1364; female = 48%, male = 52%) this study used a latent class analysis approach to structural equation modeling (SEM) to determine associations between predictor variables and meeting PA guideline trajectories. PA guideline trajectories were defined as: 1) the norm (most common trajectory)—meeting at age 12 and not meeting at age 15, 2) the High PA trajectory—meeting at both ages 12 and 15, and 3) the Low PA trajectory—not meeting at both ages 12 and 15. Predictor variables were: child enjoyment of PA, parent enjoyment of PA, youth sport participation, days parent participated in PA 30 minutes or more, days parent encouraged child PA, and days parent participated in PA with the child. Finally direct associations were tested between all predictor variables, High PA, and Low PA trajectory, as well as indirect associations mediated by the trajectories on age 26 overall health score, BMI, and weekly participation in fitness activities.

Results:
CFI, χ
2
, SRMR and RMSEA indices indicated strong fit for this model. High levels of child enjoyment of PA was negatively associated with Low PA (β = -0.15,
p
= 0.029) and positively associated with High PA (β = 0.125,
p
= 0.004). Age 26 overall health score (β = 0.155,
p
= 0.003) and BMI (β =-0.098,
p
= 0.008) were associated with High PA trajectory, however participation in fitness activities was not. Child enjoyment of PA was directly associated with age 26 fitness activity participation (β = 0.135,
p
= 0.001). Indirect effects of child enjoyment on age 26 health (β = 0.019,
p
= 0.059) and BMI (β = -0.012,
p
= 0.076) showed significant trends through the High PA trajectory pathway.

Conclusions:
Of all independent variables tested in this model, the most predictive for continuing to meet PA guidelines is child enjoyment of PA. However, continuing to meet PA guidelines during adolescence was not directly associated with fitness activity participation in young adulthood. In conclusion, findings from this model indicate meeting PA guidelines predicts better health outcomes in young adulthood; and fostering enjoyment of PA during childhood is a key factor to maintain the behaviors to achieve these outcomes.