Attitudes, Norms, and Control: What Is Shaping Fijian Children's Physical Activity and Screen Time Behaviours?

TL;DR

This study explores what influences Fijian children's physical activity and screen time behaviors, finding that attitudes, norms, and control play key roles.

Contribution

The study identifies age-specific and culturally relevant factors influencing adherence to physical activity and screen time guidelines in Fiji.

Findings

Children who believed being active would make them happier were more likely to meet physical activity recommendations.

Caregivers who set screen time restrictions were more likely to have children who met screen time guidelines.

Younger children who followed religious leaders' guidance were more likely to meet screen time recommendations.

Abstract

Only half the children in Fiji meet both physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) recommendations. Understanding factors associated with meeting these recommendations is important to inform the development of policies and programmes to encourage healthy behaviours. This study aimed to examine the association between Fijian caregivers' and children's attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control and their or their child's adherence to physical activity and screen time guidelines.

We investigated Fijian caregivers and children aged 5–17 years attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control towards meeting PA and ST guidelines through an online survey. The survey explored these factors and their associations with meeting the Asia‐Pacific Integrated 24‐h Activity Guidelines for Children and Adolescents.

A total of 1015 caregivers and 699 of their children completed the survey. Caregivers (OR = 1.4, CI 1.003–1.862) and children 5–8 years (OR = 16.5, CI 1.227–222.665) who believed being active would make them happier were more likely to meet PA recommendations compared to those not meeting PA recommendations. Caregivers who set ST restrictions (OR = 1.5, CI 1.252–1.816) and believed ST rules helped their child meet recommendations (OR = 1.3, CI 1.052–1.505) were more likely to have children who met ST recommendations versus not meet ST recommendations. Children aged 5–8 and older children/adolescents aged 9–17 who had easy access to screens were less likely to meet ST recommendations (OR = 0.5, CI 0.224–0.984) and (OR = 0.5, CI 0.324–0.802), respectively, compared to those who did meet ST recommendations. Children aged 5–8 years who believed it was important to follow the guidance of religious leaders were more likely to meet ST recommendations (OR = 5.4, CI 2.423–12.002) compared to those who did not meet the ST recommendation.

Communicating through trusted community figures (such as teachers and religious leaders for younger children and ministries for caregivers) is recommended for future initiatives to increase adherence to guidelines among children and adolescents in Fiji. These initiatives should also emphasise the link between PA and both happiness and academic performance, while exploring ways to support caregivers in enforcing ST restrictions.

Identifies key factors influencing physical activity and ST behaviours among Fijian children/adolescents and caregivers.Highlights the potential of teachers and religious leaders as trusted messengers for younger children, whereas caregivers place greater trust in ministries and schools.Provides evidence‐based recommendations for tailoring social marketing campaigns to promote healthy behaviours in Fijian children.Emphasises the importance of addressing age‐specific motivations and barriers in health promotion strategies.Offers insights into the unique cultural context of health behaviours in Fiji, informing future public health interventions.

Identifies key factors influencing physical activity and ST behaviours among Fijian children/adolescents and caregivers.

Highlights the potential of teachers and religious leaders as trusted messengers for younger children, whereas caregivers place greater trust in ministries and schools.

Provides evidence‐based recommendations for tailoring social marketing campaigns to promote healthy behaviours in Fijian children.

Emphasises the importance of addressing age‐specific motivations and barriers in health promotion strategies.

Offers insights into the unique cultural context of health behaviours in Fiji, informing future public health interventions.

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