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

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

• OR = 1.4, CI 1.003–1.862
• Comparison was between those meeting vs. not meeting PA recommendations
• Survey included 1015 caregivers total
• Assessed via online survey examining attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control

Children aged 5–8 years who believed being active would make them happier were substantially more likely to meet physical activity recommendations.

• OR = 16.5, CI 1.227–222.665
• This association was specific to the 5–8 years age group
• 699 children total completed the survey
• Wide confidence interval suggests small cell sizes in this age subgroup

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

• OR = 1.5, CI 1.252–1.816
• Comparison was between children meeting vs. not meeting ST recommendations
• This reflects a perceived behavioural control factor at the caregiver level

Caregivers who believed screen time rules helped their child meet recommendations were more likely to have children who met screen time recommendations.

• OR = 1.3, CI 1.052–1.505
• This reflects an attitudinal factor at the caregiver level
• Assessed through the online survey instrument aligned with the Theory of Planned Behavior constructs

Easy access to screens was associated with lower likelihood of meeting screen time recommendations in both younger and older children.

• Children aged 5–8 years: OR = 0.5, CI 0.224–0.984
• Children/adolescents aged 9–17 years: OR = 0.5, CI 0.324–0.802
• Both age groups showed the same odds ratio magnitude of 0.5
• Access to screens reflects a perceived behavioural control factor

Children aged 5–8 years who believed it was important to follow the guidance of religious leaders were more likely to meet screen time recommendations.

• OR = 5.4, CI 2.423–12.002
• This reflects a subjective norms factor specific to the younger age group
• No equivalent significant association was reported for older children regarding religious leaders

Only half the children in Fiji meet both physical activity and screen time recommendations.

• This prevalence figure is cited as motivation for the study
• The study used the Asia-Pacific Integrated 24-h Activity Guidelines for Children and Adolescents as the benchmark
• Sample included caregivers and children aged 5–17 years in Fiji

The study recruited 1015 caregivers and 699 of their children aged 5–17 years to complete an online survey about attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control.

• Survey was conducted online
• Participants were Fijian caregivers and children
• The survey explored factors associated with adherence to the Asia-Pacific Integrated 24-h Activity Guidelines for Children and Adolescents
• Children were split into age groups (5–8 years and 9–17 years) for analyses