Family Influence on Physical Activity: Exploring the Nature of Reciprocal Relationships

This study was an exploration towards better understanding the reciprocal relationship between parents’ and children’s physical activity behaviour. Social Cognitive Theory provided a theoretical framework to investigate the nature of the family socialization process. Focus group interviews were conducted with 26 children and 16 parents to gain insight into the relationship and influence between parents’ and children’s choice to be physically active. The following themes emerged: success in doing physical activity, personal choice to be physically active, reciprocal family modeling, community and culture are models too, verbal persuasion of physical activity, asserting physical activity, health benefits of physical activity, enjoyment of physical activity, and social benefits of physical activity. Findings suggested that parents perceived they influenced their children’s physical activity and that children perceived they influenced their parents’ physical activity. The authors offer ideas for the incorporation of reciprocal family influence in the promotion of physical activity for both children and parents.