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Physical activity practice and sports preferences in a group of Spanish schoolchildren depending on sex and parental care: a gender perspective

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title
Boys Like Ball, Girls Like Dance: Parental Influence on Kids' Activity

The study found that boys were more physically active than girls and preferred team/contact sports, while girls favored individual and artistic sports. Children cared for by their fathers were more likely to be physically active, suggesting a potential influence of paternal figures on activity levels.

Explain Like I'm Five

Scientists found that boys often play more active team sports, while girls like individual or artistic activities. They also saw that kids whose dads helped care for them tended to be more active overall.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

The authors received funding from Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) through multiple projects. However, no direct conflicts related to commercial interests were identified.

Identified Limitations

Cross-sectional design
The cross-sectional design does not allow for causal inferences, limiting the strength of the conclusions.
Non-representative sample
The sample is not fully representative of the Spanish population, restricting the generalizability of the findings.
Self-reported physical activity data
The reliance on questionnaires for physical activity data introduces potential bias due to self-reporting, which may overestimate or underestimate actual activity levels.
Secondary analysis
The secondary analysis nature of the study may introduce limitations due to the original study's focus on sodium intake, not physical activity and sports preferences specifically.
Low participation rate
The low participation rate of 20.15% raises concerns about potential selection bias and the generalizability of the findings.

Rating Explanation

The study provides valuable insights into sex differences in physical activity and sports preferences, as well as the influence of parental care. However, several methodological limitations, such as the cross-sectional design, non-representative sample, and self-reported data, restrict its overall strength. The study's funding from the university, while a potential source of bias, is not significant enough to severely impact the rating. Hence, the rating is 3, reflecting an average study with meaningful findings but notable limitations.

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Topic Hierarchy

Domain: Social Sciences

File Information

Original Title: Physical activity practice and sports preferences in a group of Spanish schoolchildren depending on sex and parental care: a gender perspective
Uploaded: July 14, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Privacy: Public