Delivering inactivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of parenthood and physical activity
| dc.contributor.author | Hilgartner, James | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-04-27T14:59:33Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-04-27T14:59:33Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is critical for health; however, many adults are insufficiently active. Parenthood may be a plausible high-risk period for inactivity. This review's purpose was to syntheisze recent evidence on how parenthood relates to MVPA, including within-person changes across the transition to parenthood and between-group differences between parents and age-matched adults without children, with subgroup-analyses of methodological and demographic characteristics. Methods: Eligible articles were English peer-reviewed studies and theses. A systematic search was conducted in April 2025 across five databases. Risk of bias was assessed using the NHLBI Quality Assessment Tool. Random-effects meta-analyses compared MVPA among parents and adults without children, and pre- to post-transition to parenthood. Results: Of 30,607 records, 62 papers were included and 39 contributed to the meta-analysis. Parents had lower MVPA compared to adults without children (d = -0.12 [95% CI -0.17 to -0.08]; k = 35). For within-participant analysis, MVPA declined across the transition to parenthood (d = -0.39 [95% CI -0.54 to -0.25]; k = 21), with study design being the only significant moderator (p < .05). Conclusions: This is the first meta-analysis of parenthood and physical activity. The results demonstrate that parenthood is associated with a small to moderate decline in MVPA for both mothers and fathers. These results support parenthood as an important life stage for future physical activity interventions. | |
| dc.description.reviewstatus | Reviewed | |
| dc.description.scholarlevel | Undergraduate | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/23725 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of Victoria | |
| dc.subject | parenthood | |
| dc.subject | physical activity | |
| dc.subject | moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) | |
| dc.subject | meta-analysis | |
| dc.subject | Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA) | |
| dc.subject.department | School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education | |
| dc.title | Delivering inactivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of parenthood and physical activity | |
| dc.type | Poster |