A1 Journal article (refereed)
Parenthood and changes in physical activity from early adulthood to mid‐life among Finnish adults (2023)


Palomäki, S., Kukko, T., Kaseva, K., Salin, K., Lounassalo, I., Yang, X., Rovio, S., Pahkala, K., Lehtimäki, T., Hirvensalo, M., Raitakari, O., & Tammelin, T. H. (2023). Parenthood and changes in physical activity from early adulthood to mid‐life among Finnish adults. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 33(5), 682-692. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14293


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsPalomäki, Sanna; Kukko, Tuomas; Kaseva, Kaisa; Salin, Kasper; Lounassalo, Irinja; Yang, Xiaolin; Rovio, Suvi; Pahkala, Katja; Lehtimäki, Terho; Hirvensalo, Mirja; et al.

Journal or seriesScandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports

ISSN0905-7188

eISSN1600-0838

Publication year2023

Publication date28/12/2022

Volume33

Issue number5

Pages range682-692

PublisherWiley

Publication countryUnited Kingdom

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14293

Publication open accessNot open

Publication channel open access

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/84725


Abstract

This study examined longitudinal associations between parenthood-related factors and physical activity from young adulthood to midlife over a 19-year follow-up period. Participants (n=761) at the ongoing Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study responded to a self-report questionnaire in their adulthood (in 1992, 2001, 2007 and 2011). Participants were classified as meeting or not meeting an aerobic physical activity recommendation. Parenthood related factors included the age of having their first child, as well as the number and age of the children. Analyses of Generalized Estimation Equations were performed and adjusted for several demographic and health-related covariates. Both mothers and fathers with children under six years were less likely to be involved in physical activity than participants without children. However, meeting the aerobic physical activity recommendations did not differ between parents with a youngest child who was six years old or older as compared to the childless participants. The older the youngest child was, the more likely the parents were to be physically active. Participants who became a parent relatively late, at the age of 30 or older, seemed less likely to meet the aerobic physical activity recommendation during follow-up than those who had their first child at the age of 26-29. The results indicate that parenthood does not seem to have a long-lasting negative impact on adults’ physical activity, and the individuals reached a similar level of physical activity in midlife than they had before parenthood.


Keywordsphysical trainingphysical activityphysical hobbiesparenthoodfamily lifeeffects (results)time usefathersmotherschildren (age groups)

Free keywordsphysical activity; parenthood; family; adult; mother; father; child


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

Reporting Year2022

JUFO rating2


Last updated on 2024-25-03 at 10:01