Do parents’ and children’s perceptions of community environment affect children’s physical activity levels?

In the context of increasing rates of overweight and obesity among children worldwide, insufficient physical activity may serve as a non-negligible behavioral factor which decreases physical fitness level for Chinese children. Many recent studies have shown that parents’ and children’s perception of community environment would affect children’s physical activity level. This study took children as the research object, and questionnaire survey was conducted on children aged 9-12 and their parents in the selected studying area. A total of 14 categories of parents’ environmental perception factors and 6 categories of children’s environmental perception factors were obtained. And children’s physical activity level was obtained based on the improved CLASS-C questionnaire. Then, linear regression analysis and structural equation model path analysis was applied to explore the impact of community environment perception on children’s physical activity level. The results reveal that the overall impact of parents’ and children’s environmental perception on children's physical activity level were approximately equal, while different influence effects exist when it comes to specific perception factors. The impact degree of the four main categories of community parental perceptual characteristics were ranked as activity venues and facilities, safety, community satisfaction and atmosphere, and landscape environment. Parents' perception of numbers of sports venues and facilities, numbers of game venues and facilities, patency of walking, traffic safety, community attachment and affection for community, all these factors have significant impact on children’s physical activity level. Children's perception of numbers of game venues and facilities, numbers of interesting things, community attachment, numbers of natural scenery, and safety all have significant impact on their own physical activity level. In general, sports or game venues and facilities of communities perceived by parents and children are the most influential factors impacting children's physical activity level. The research results are of great significance for establishing a child-friendly community environment, promoting the improvement for physical activity level and healthy development of children.