Physical Activity and TV Viewing Parenting Practices for Toddlers among South Asians in the UK: Born in Bradford 1000 Study

Abstract Background Children and adults of South Asian (SA) origin in the UK have been found to have suboptimal levels of physical activity (PA). PA habits in early childhood tend to sustain through adulthood. Parents play an important role in establishing these habits in young children. The primary aim of this study was to compare PA and television (TV) viewing parenting practices for young children between SA British (SAB) and White British (WB) parents living in the UK. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of the Born in Bradford (BiB) 1000 study, using survey data at child ages 24 and 36 months. The study sample included three groups of mothers (n = 1,149): foreign-born SAB (n = 458), UK-born SAB (n = 276), and WB (n = 455). Mothers completed a survey about parenting practices (i.e., PA-supportive, PA-restrictive, allowing TV viewing at mealtimes, limiting TV viewing) at child age 24 months and child PA and TV viewing behaviors at child ages 24 and 36 months. Parenting practices were compared among the three groups. Multivariable linear regression analyses compared children’s weekly walking frequency and daily TV viewing hours by parenting practices in the three groups. Results The foreign-born SAB group showed the lowest frequencies of PA-supportive parenting practices (verbal encouragement: 3.7 ± 3.1 times/week; logistic support: 1.5 ± 1.8 times/week) and the highest frequencies of PA-restrictive parenting practices (7.8 ± 7.7 times/week) among the three groups (p < 0.01). Children of Foreign-born SAB mothers had the most frequent TV watching during a mealtime (4.0 ± 3.1 times/week) among the three groups (p < 0.01). Less frequent PA-supportive parenting practices and SA ethnicity were associated with lower walking frequency at 24 and 36 months of age among children (p < 0.01). More frequent exposure to TV at mealtimes and SA ethnicity were associated with higher TV viewing time at 24 and 36 months of age among children (p < 0.01). Conclusions This study demonstrated that SAB parents, particularly those that are foreign-born, apply parenting practices for their young children that are less supportive of PA and more supportive of TV viewing, and their children have lower PA and higher TV viewing time, compared with their WB counterparts.