Projects per year
Abstract
Purpose: Previous studies showed that unfavourable weather conditions discourage physical activity. However, it remains unclear whether unfavourable weather conditions have a differential impact on physical activity in children compared with adults. We aim to explore the differential impact of weather on time allocation to physical activity and sleep by children and their parents. Method: We use nationally representative data with time use indicators objectively measured on multiple occasions for >1100 Australian pairs of 12–13-year-old children and their middle-aged parents, coupled with daily meteorological data. We employ an individual fixed effects regression model to estimate the causal impact of weather. Results: We find that unfavourable weather conditions, as measured by cold or hot temperatures or rain, cause children to reduce moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity time and increase sedentary time. However, such weather conditions have little impact on children's sleep time or the time allocation of their parents. We also find substantial differential weather impact, especially on children's time allocation, by weekdays/weekends and parental employment status, suggesting that these factors may contribute to explaining the differential weather impact that we observed. Our results additionally provide evidence of adaptation, as temperature appears to have a more pronounced impact on time allocation in colder months and colder regions. Conclusion: Our finding of a negative impact of unfavourable weather conditions on the time allocated to physical activity by children indicates a need to design policies to encourage them to be more physically active on days with unfavourable weather conditions and hence improve child health and wellbeing. Evidence of a more pronounced and negative impact on the time allocated to physical activity by children than their parents suggests that extreme weather conditions, including those associated with climate change, could make children vulnerable to reduced physical activity.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 163249 |
Journal | Science of the Total Environment |
Volume | 880 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2023 |
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ARC Centre of Excellence for Children & Families Over Life Course
Cross, D. (Investigator 01), Christian, H. (Investigator 02) & Mitrou, F. (Investigator 03)
ARC Australian Research Council
1/01/21 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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ARC CoE for Children and Families Over the Life Course
Baxter, J. (Investigator 01), Zubrick, S. (Investigator 02), Cobb-Clark, D. (Investigator 03), Western, M. (Investigator 04), Mazerolle, L. (Investigator 05), Sanders, M. (Investigator 06), Harmon, C. (Investigator 07), Haynes, M. (Investigator 08) & Lawrence, D. (Investigator 09)
ARC Australian Research Council
1/01/14 → 31/12/20
Project: Research