Reasons for child physical inactivity: A view from children, parents, and coaches

Abstract

Physical activity from childhood and throughout adult life allows a low-risk profile to be maintained compared to many conditions. This study aimed to identify the difficulties that lead to physical inactivity in children. For the study, there was a sample of 2,621 children from 13 cities in the country, 3,754 parents of these children, and 134 coaches from different schools in the Mexican Republic. A questionnaire of 17 open and closed questions was used to obtain children's information; the questionnaire was an adaptation of the instrument State of Play: Youth Sports Survey (The Aspen Institute, 2018). Parents were asked what they felt might be the main challenges they had in fostering physical and/or sporting activity in their children. Finally, coaches were asked the main reasons why children do not play sports or physical activity. In the general sample of children, the results showed that the main aspect of their physical inactivity relates to responsibilities; parents mentioned, as the main cause, the lack of time, and coaches reported misused the technology.