Factors Predicting Sedentary Behaviors among School Age Children
Keywords:
Predictive Factors, Sedentary Behaviors, School-Aged ChildrenAbstract
This study aimed to identify factors predicting sedentary behaviors in school-aged children. The sample consisted of 183 primary school students in grades 4-6 from Ban Bueng district, Chon Buri province, selected through multistage random sampling. Research instruments included questionnaires on demographic information, attitudes toward sedentary behavior, access to playgrounds and sports equipment in schools and communities, social support, and sedentary behaviors. Data were collected from June to July 2023 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression.
Results showed that sedentary behaviors on weekdays (Monday-Friday) were at a low level (M = 3.57, SD = 1.242) and at a moderate level on weekends (M = 3.70, SD = 1.362). The significant predictor of sedentary behaviors was attitude toward sedentary behavior (b = .179), explaining 3.2% of the variance (R² = .032, p < .05).
The findings suggest that community nurse practitioners and healthcare providers should develop interventions to reduce sedentary behaviors among school-aged children by focusing on attitude modification.
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