Multiple studies have found associations between father’s physical activity and daughter’s physical activity. I remember one study in particular, from Isgor et al (2013) that found this association for fathers and daughters, but not the same for mothers. I wonder why that is. There are many possible reasons, which would all be conjecture at this point, but maybe if it has to do with co-participation.
Of course these studies are now almost ten years old and couldn’t possibly cover everyone’s experience in the world. But they do beg the question, what is the best way to get your children involved in sport. If it isn’t enough to model behavior, to show them a physically active lifestyle, what does it take? But more importantly, how might mothers and fathers approach getting their children’s physical activity differently? What are the different behaviors that can account for the study’s results?
Of course this study is over ten years now, but it is something that I still think about, and I don’t know if we have changed all that much in a decade. I’m going to keep reading up on this issue and get back to you on some possible answers.
Here is the study I referenced:
Isgor, Z, Powell, L. M., Wang, Y. (2013). Multivariable analysis of the association between fathers’ and youths’ physical activity in the United States. BMC Public Health, 2013, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1075
The Sideline Fix 
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