Table 2. Links between parental exercise habits and girls’ and boys’ involvement in sport
Parental exercise habits Girls Boys
% of adolescents
engaged in sport
OR (95% CI) % of adolescents
engaged in sport
OR (95% CI)
Both parents exercise
vs. neither parent exercises
45.9 (n = 28)
23.2 (n = 214)***
1.69 (1.30–2.19) 62.9 (n = 22)
46.3 (n = 403)
1.40 (0.99–1.99)
One parent exercises
vs. neither parent exercises
35.2 (n = 83)
23.2 (n = 214)***
1.35 (1.16–1.56) 54.8 (n = 97)
46.3 (n = 404)*
.71 (.51–.98)
Father exercises
vs. father does not exercise
35.7 (n = 55)
22.7 (n = 207)***
1.37 (1.15–1.65) 59.6 (n = 68)
46.7 (n = 400)*
1.30 (1.09–1.55)
Mother exercises
vs. mother does not exercise
33.3 (n = 27)
22.7 (n = 207)*
1.31 (1.02–1.67) 49.2 (n = 29)
46.7 (n = 400)
1.14 (0.81–1.37)
OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.* p < 0.05*** p < 0.001