Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
BMC Public Health
Volume
24
Issue
1
PubMed ID
38909205
Publisher
Springer
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
70368
Funders
Healthway / National Health and Medical Research Council / National Heart Foundation
Grant Number
NHMRC Number : APP1194713
Abstract
Background: With an increasing number of grandparents providing care to their grandchildren, calls have been made for these caregivers to be considered important stakeholders in encouraging children’s engagement in health-promoting behaviors, such as physical activity. Understanding the perspectives of grandparents who provide care is crucial to informing efforts that aim to increase children’s physical activity, yet little is understood about their perceptions of specific barriers and enablers to promoting children’s physical activity and reducing screen time. The present study sought to explore these perceptions. Methods: Semi-structured focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with grandparents who reported providing care to a grandchild aged 3 to 14 years. A total of 20 grandparents were sampled (mean age = 67.8 years). Data were subjected to reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Key reported barriers to physical activity included (i) the effort (physical and logistical) and financial cost associated with organizing physical activities, (ii) grandparents’ age and mobility issues (e.g., due to injury or illness), (iii) caring for children of different ages (e.g., older children having different physical activity interests than younger children), and (iv) a local environment that is not conducive to physical activity (e.g., lack of appropriate facilities). Barriers to reducing screen time included (i) parents sending children to care with electronic devices and (ii) children’s fear of missing out on social connection that occurs electronically. Strategies and enablers of physical activity included (i) integrating activity into caregiving routines (e.g., walking the dog), (ii) involving grandchildren in decision making (e.g., asking them in which physical activities they wish to engage), (iii) encouraging grandchildren to engage in activity with other children, and (iv) creating a physical and social environment that supports activity (e.g., owning play equipment). A common strategy for reducing screen time was the creation of a home environment that is not conducive to this activity (e.g., removing electronic devices from view). Conclusions: Findings suggest that grandparents may benefit from resources that assist them to identify activities that are inexpensive and require minimal effort to organize. Activities that account for grandparents’ age and health status, as well as any environmental barriers, are likely to be well-received.
DOI
10.1186/s12889-024-19178-2
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Budden, T., Coall, D. A., Jackson, B., Christian, H., Nathan, A., & Jongenelis, M. I. (2024). Barriers and enablers to promoting grandchildren’s physical activity and reducing screen time: A qualitative study with Australian grandparents. BMC Public Health, 24(1), Article 1670. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19178-2