Social-ecological correlates of children’s outdoor playtime and their interaction with gender: a national longitudinal study

Background: Outdoor playtime (OP) is consistently associated with higher physical activity in children, but it has declined over the last few decades, underscoring the need to better understand its correlates. Guided by the social-ecological model, we explored the correlates of parent-reported OP in Canadian children. Methods: In December 2020, we recruited 2291 parents of 7- to 12-year-olds across Canada and followed up every 6 months until June 2022 (4 study waves). We asked parents to report their child’s OP on weekdays and weekend days during the previous week. We employed generalized estimating equations to investigate correlates of accumulating ≥1 h/day of OP, adjusting for household income and study wave. We tested whether gender moderated each correlate in the multivariable model. Results: The final multivariable model included 12 significant correlates incorporating four at the individual level (child age, gender, independent mobility, and mobile phone ownership), four at the interpersonal level (parent age and gender, perceived behavioural control for physical activity, and dog ownership), two at the community level (social cohesion and school attendance mode) and two at the built/natural environment level (population density and study wave [likely acting as a proxy for season]). Gender moderated the association of five correlates: child age, independent mobility, social cohesion, school attendance mode, and study wave. Conclusions: As postulated by the social-ecological model, correlates of OP span multiple levels of influence and interactions between levels are evident. Gender also appears to be an important moderator. Findings can inform future interventions to promote OP.