Little emperor hyper-parenting was negatively related to physical activity.
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Tiger mom hyper-parenting was negatively related to physical activity.
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Concerted cultivation hyper-parenting was negatively related to physical activity.
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Helicopter hyper-parenting was not related to physical activity.
Abstract
Objective
To explore associations between helicopter, little emperor, tiger mom, and concerted cultivation hyper-parenting styles with child physical activity.
Methods
724 North American parents of 7–12 year olds completed a survey (May, 2014) that assessed their engagement in the hyper-parenting styles and the frequency that their child played outdoors, walked/bicycled, and played organized sports. Z-scores were generated for each hyper-parenting style and four groups were created: low (<− 1 SD), below average (− 1 to − 0.49 SD), average (− 0.50 to 0.50 SD), above average (0.51 to 0.1.0 SD), and high (> 1 SD).
Results
Outdoor play, active transportation, and organized sport did not differ across helicopter parenting groups. Children in the low little emperor group had higher (P < 0.005) outdoor play and active transportation scores than children in the average, above average, and high groups (exception: high group for outdoor play). Children in the low tiger mom and concerted cultivation groups had higher (P < 0.005) outdoor play, active transportation, and organized sport scores than children in the average, above average, and high groups (exceptions: average and high tiger mom groups for organized sport).
Conclusions
Little emperor, tiger mom, and concerted cultivation parenting styles were associated with lower physical activity among 7–12 year olds.
