Parental perceptions of environmental factors on preschoolers' outdoor play in 19 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries

Claudia I. Maddren; Gursimran Dhamrait; Mounir Ghogho; Alejandra Jáuregui; Elina Engberg; Sanne L.C. Veldman; Dyah Anantalia Widyastari; Asmaa El Hamdouchi; Chalchisa Abdeta; Ankhmaa Byambaa; Mohamed-Souhaiel Chelly; Michael Chia; Fazlollah Ghofranipour; Anna Kontsevaya; Himangi Lubree; Tawonga Mwase-Vuma; Jackline Nusurupia; Amonje Moses Oluchiri; Aoko Oluwayomi; Kuston Sultoni; Wei-Peng Teo; Ali Turab; Edin Užičanin; Najmeh Hamzavi Zarghani; Anthony D. Okely

doi:10.1123/jpah.2024-0615

Parental perceptions of environmental factors on preschoolers' outdoor play in 19 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries

Claudia I. Maddren, Gursimran Dhamrait, Mounir Ghogho, Alejandra Jáuregui, Elina Engberg, Sanne L.C. Veldman, Dyah Anantalia Widyastari, Asmaa El Hamdouchi, Chalchisa Abdeta, Ankhmaa Byambaa, Mohamed-Souhaiel Chelly, Michael Chia, Fazlollah Ghofranipour, Anna Kontsevaya, Himangi Lubree, Tawonga Mwase-Vuma, Jackline Nusurupia, Amonje Moses Oluchiri, Aoko Oluwayomi, Kuston SultoniWei-Peng Teo, Ali Turab, Edin Užičanin, Najmeh Hamzavi Zarghani, Anthony D. Okely

Physical Activity And Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Environmental factors influence children’s development. However, their impact on outdoor play among children from international settings remains understudied. This study examined associations between parent perceptions of environmental factors and outdoor play among an international sample of preschool-aged children. Methods: Data were sourced from the pilot phases of the SUNRISE International Study of Movement Behaviors in the Early Years. Parents completed a questionnaire about their child’s outdoor play and environmental factors that influenced their child’s participation in outdoor play in the past 3 days. Results: 1855 children from 19 countries (16 low- and middle-income countries) were examined. Heat (−25.6; 95% CI, −44.6 to −6.6), cold (−26.9; 95% CI, −45.9 to −8.4), and rain (−24.8; 95% CI, −43.3 to −6.6) were negatively associated with weekday outdoor play. Cold (−41.2; 95% CI, −62.4 to −20.0) and social instability (−40.7; 95% CI, −61.5 to −20.3) were negatively associated with weekend outdoor play. Playing at friend’s or relative’s homes (29.5 [95% CI, 18.6 to 40.5]; 37.9 [25.6 to 50.4]), greenspaces (23.1 [95% CI, 9.6 to 36.6]; 30.4 [95% CI, 15.1 to 45.8]), and on the street (41.4 [95% CI, 26.9 to 55.7]; 34.9 [95% CI, 18.2 to 51.3]) were associated with weekday and weekend day outdoor play, respectively. Playing on the family’s property was also associated with weekend day outdoor play (25.5 [95% CI, 18.2 to 51.3]). Conclusions: The environmental context is important to consider when developing interventions to promote outdoor play in young children across diverse international settings. Future research from representative populations is needed to confirm these findings.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	555-565
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Volume	22
Issue number	5
Early online date	19 Feb 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0615
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2025

Funding

We thank Dr. Bradley Wakefield from the University of Wollongong Statistical Consulting Service for his advice on the statistical analyses. We acknowledge the efforts of the SUNRISE Coordinating Center based at the University of Wollongong, Australia for their data collection and data management support for the pilot phases of each participating country. Funding: Maddren was supported by the 2022 University Postgraduate Award scholarship, through the University of Wollongong, Australia. Dhamrait was supported as a Research Fellow with the Australian Research Council\u2019s Center of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (Project ID CE200100025). Byambaa was supported by the 2023 University Postgraduate Award scholarship, University of Wollongong, Australia. Chia and Teo was supported by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, ERFP Tier 1 (OER 04/19 TWP). Engberg was supported by Folkh\u00E4lsan Research Center, the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland, Juho Vainio Foundation, Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, and Yrj\u00F6 Jahnsson Foundation. Hamdouchi was supported by ISBNPA Pioneers Scholarship Program. J\u00E1uregui was supported by The Fogarty International Center at the US National Institutes of Health (A66864). Kontsevaya was supported by WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. Lubree was supported by KEM Hospital Research Centre. Mwase-Vuma was supported by the Amsterdam Public Health Health Behaviors and Chronic Diseases Project Grant, The Sir Halley Stewart Trust (2674). Nusurupia was partly supported by Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board. Oluchiri was supported by World Cancer Research Fund International and Cancer Australia. Oluwayomi was supported by NIH Scholarship Travel Award, ISBNPA Pioneer Scholarship Award, and CREDPR PI Award. Sultoni was supported by Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Research Grant (grant number 293/UN40-D/PT/2019). Turab was supported by Precision Health Consultant Internal Funding Scheme. CAT was supported by the 2020 University Postgraduate Award scholarship, University of Wollongong, Australia. Veldman was supported by Amsterdam Public Health Health Behaviors and Chronic Diseases Project Grant. Widyastari was supported by the National Research Council of Thailand, through Mahidol University Fundamental Fund (198862) and Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK), Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Thailand. Okely was supported by NHMRC Investigator Grant (GNT1175858).

Keywords

child development
preschoolers
early years
environment
public health
health determinants

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1123/jpah.2024-0615

Cite this

Maddren, C. I., Dhamrait, G., Ghogho, M., Jáuregui, A., Engberg, E., Veldman, S. L. C., Widyastari, D. A., El Hamdouchi, A., Abdeta, C., Byambaa, A., Chelly, M.-S., Chia, M., Ghofranipour, F., Kontsevaya, A., Lubree, H., Mwase-Vuma, T., Nusurupia, J., Oluchiri, A. M., Oluwayomi, A., ... Okely, A. D. (2025). Parental perceptions of environmental factors on preschoolers' outdoor play in 19 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 22(5), 555-565. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0615

@article{f846d0443bc241acbae7875d97244fdd,

title = "Parental perceptions of environmental factors on preschoolers' outdoor play in 19 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries",

abstract = "Background: Environmental factors influence children{\textquoteright}s development. However, their impact on outdoor play among children from international settings remains understudied. This study examined associations between parent perceptions of environmental factors and outdoor play among an international sample of preschool-aged children. Methods: Data were sourced from the pilot phases of the SUNRISE International Study of Movement Behaviors in the Early Years. Parents completed a questionnaire about their child{\textquoteright}s outdoor play and environmental factors that influenced their child{\textquoteright}s participation in outdoor play in the past 3 days. Results: 1855 children from 19 countries (16 low- and middle-income countries) were examined. Heat (−25.6; 95% CI, −44.6 to −6.6), cold (−26.9; 95% CI, −45.9 to −8.4), and rain (−24.8; 95% CI, −43.3 to −6.6) were negatively associated with weekday outdoor play. Cold (−41.2; 95% CI, −62.4 to −20.0) and social instability (−40.7; 95% CI, −61.5 to −20.3) were negatively associated with weekend outdoor play. Playing at friend{\textquoteright}s or relative{\textquoteright}s homes (29.5 [95% CI, 18.6 to 40.5]; 37.9 [25.6 to 50.4]), greenspaces (23.1 [95% CI, 9.6 to 36.6]; 30.4 [95% CI, 15.1 to 45.8]), and on the street (41.4 [95% CI, 26.9 to 55.7]; 34.9 [95% CI, 18.2 to 51.3]) were associated with weekday and weekend day outdoor play, respectively. Playing on the family{\textquoteright}s property was also associated with weekend day outdoor play (25.5 [95% CI, 18.2 to 51.3]). Conclusions: The environmental context is important to consider when developing interventions to promote outdoor play in young children across diverse international settings. Future research from representative populations is needed to confirm these findings.",

keywords = "child development, preschoolers, early years, environment, public health, health determinants",

author = "Maddren, {Claudia I.} and Gursimran Dhamrait and Mounir Ghogho and Alejandra J{\'a}uregui and Elina Engberg and Veldman, {Sanne L.C.} and Widyastari, {Dyah Anantalia} and {El Hamdouchi}, Asmaa and Chalchisa Abdeta and Ankhmaa Byambaa and Mohamed-Souhaiel Chelly and Michael Chia and Fazlollah Ghofranipour and Anna Kontsevaya and Himangi Lubree and Tawonga Mwase-Vuma and Jackline Nusurupia and Oluchiri, {Amonje Moses} and Aoko Oluwayomi and Kuston Sultoni and Wei-Peng Teo and Ali Turab and Edin U{\v z}i{\v c}anin and Zarghani, {Najmeh Hamzavi} and Okely, {Anthony D.}",

year = "2025",

month = may,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1123/jpah.2024-0615",

language = "English",

volume = "22",

pages = "555--565",

journal = "Journal of Physical Activity and Health",

issn = "1543-3080",

number = "5",

}

Maddren, CI, Dhamrait, G, Ghogho, M, Jáuregui, A, Engberg, E, Veldman, SLC, Widyastari, DA, El Hamdouchi, A, Abdeta, C, Byambaa, A, Chelly, M-S, Chia, M, Ghofranipour, F, Kontsevaya, A, Lubree, H, Mwase-Vuma, T, Nusurupia, J, Oluchiri, AM, Oluwayomi, A, Sultoni, K, Teo, W-P, Turab, A, Užičanin, E, Zarghani, NH & Okely, AD 2025, 'Parental perceptions of environmental factors on preschoolers' outdoor play in 19 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries', Journal of Physical Activity and Health, vol. 22, no. 5, pp. 555-565. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0615

TY - JOUR

T1 - Parental perceptions of environmental factors on preschoolers' outdoor play in 19 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries

AU - Maddren, Claudia I.

AU - Dhamrait, Gursimran

AU - Ghogho, Mounir

AU - Jáuregui, Alejandra

AU - Engberg, Elina

AU - Veldman, Sanne L.C.

AU - Widyastari, Dyah Anantalia

AU - El Hamdouchi, Asmaa

AU - Abdeta, Chalchisa

AU - Byambaa, Ankhmaa

AU - Chelly, Mohamed-Souhaiel

AU - Chia, Michael

AU - Ghofranipour, Fazlollah

AU - Kontsevaya, Anna

AU - Lubree, Himangi

AU - Mwase-Vuma, Tawonga

AU - Nusurupia, Jackline

AU - Oluchiri, Amonje Moses

AU - Oluwayomi, Aoko

AU - Sultoni, Kuston

AU - Teo, Wei-Peng

AU - Turab, Ali

AU - Užičanin, Edin

AU - Zarghani, Najmeh Hamzavi

AU - Okely, Anthony D.

PY - 2025/5/1

Y1 - 2025/5/1

N2 - Background: Environmental factors influence children’s development. However, their impact on outdoor play among children from international settings remains understudied. This study examined associations between parent perceptions of environmental factors and outdoor play among an international sample of preschool-aged children. Methods: Data were sourced from the pilot phases of the SUNRISE International Study of Movement Behaviors in the Early Years. Parents completed a questionnaire about their child’s outdoor play and environmental factors that influenced their child’s participation in outdoor play in the past 3 days. Results: 1855 children from 19 countries (16 low- and middle-income countries) were examined. Heat (−25.6; 95% CI, −44.6 to −6.6), cold (−26.9; 95% CI, −45.9 to −8.4), and rain (−24.8; 95% CI, −43.3 to −6.6) were negatively associated with weekday outdoor play. Cold (−41.2; 95% CI, −62.4 to −20.0) and social instability (−40.7; 95% CI, −61.5 to −20.3) were negatively associated with weekend outdoor play. Playing at friend’s or relative’s homes (29.5 [95% CI, 18.6 to 40.5]; 37.9 [25.6 to 50.4]), greenspaces (23.1 [95% CI, 9.6 to 36.6]; 30.4 [95% CI, 15.1 to 45.8]), and on the street (41.4 [95% CI, 26.9 to 55.7]; 34.9 [95% CI, 18.2 to 51.3]) were associated with weekday and weekend day outdoor play, respectively. Playing on the family’s property was also associated with weekend day outdoor play (25.5 [95% CI, 18.2 to 51.3]). Conclusions: The environmental context is important to consider when developing interventions to promote outdoor play in young children across diverse international settings. Future research from representative populations is needed to confirm these findings.

AB - Background: Environmental factors influence children’s development. However, their impact on outdoor play among children from international settings remains understudied. This study examined associations between parent perceptions of environmental factors and outdoor play among an international sample of preschool-aged children. Methods: Data were sourced from the pilot phases of the SUNRISE International Study of Movement Behaviors in the Early Years. Parents completed a questionnaire about their child’s outdoor play and environmental factors that influenced their child’s participation in outdoor play in the past 3 days. Results: 1855 children from 19 countries (16 low- and middle-income countries) were examined. Heat (−25.6; 95% CI, −44.6 to −6.6), cold (−26.9; 95% CI, −45.9 to −8.4), and rain (−24.8; 95% CI, −43.3 to −6.6) were negatively associated with weekday outdoor play. Cold (−41.2; 95% CI, −62.4 to −20.0) and social instability (−40.7; 95% CI, −61.5 to −20.3) were negatively associated with weekend outdoor play. Playing at friend’s or relative’s homes (29.5 [95% CI, 18.6 to 40.5]; 37.9 [25.6 to 50.4]), greenspaces (23.1 [95% CI, 9.6 to 36.6]; 30.4 [95% CI, 15.1 to 45.8]), and on the street (41.4 [95% CI, 26.9 to 55.7]; 34.9 [95% CI, 18.2 to 51.3]) were associated with weekday and weekend day outdoor play, respectively. Playing on the family’s property was also associated with weekend day outdoor play (25.5 [95% CI, 18.2 to 51.3]). Conclusions: The environmental context is important to consider when developing interventions to promote outdoor play in young children across diverse international settings. Future research from representative populations is needed to confirm these findings.

KW - child development

KW - preschoolers

KW - early years

KW - environment

KW - public health

KW - health determinants

U2 - 10.1123/jpah.2024-0615

DO - 10.1123/jpah.2024-0615

M3 - Article

SN - 1543-3080

VL - 22

SP - 555

EP - 565

JO - Journal of Physical Activity and Health

JF - Journal of Physical Activity and Health

IS - 5

ER -

Parental perceptions of environmental factors on preschoolers' outdoor play in 19 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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