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Attitudes, Norms, and Control: What Is Shaping Fijian Children's Physical Activity and Screen Time Behaviours?

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Child Care Health and Development

Published online on

Abstract

["Child: Care, Health and Development, Volume 52, Issue 2, March 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\n\nBackground\nOnly half the children in Fiji meet both physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) recommendations. Understanding factors associated with meeting these recommendations is important to inform the development of policies and programmes to encourage healthy behaviours. This study aimed to examine the association between Fijian caregivers' and children's attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control and their or their child's adherence to physical activity and screen time guidelines.\n\n\nMethods\nWe investigated Fijian caregivers and children aged 5–17 years attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control towards meeting PA and ST guidelines through an online survey. The survey explored these factors and their associations with meeting the Asia‐Pacific Integrated 24‐h Activity Guidelines for Children and Adolescents.\n\n\nResults\nA total of 1015 caregivers and 699 of their children completed the survey. Caregivers (OR = 1.4, CI 1.003–1.862) and children 5–8 years (OR = 16.5, CI 1.227–222.665) who believed being active would make them happier were more likely to meet PA recommendations compared to those not meeting PA recommendations. Caregivers who set ST restrictions (OR = 1.5, CI 1.252–1.816) and believed ST rules helped their child meet recommendations (OR = 1.3, CI 1.052–1.505) were more likely to have children who met ST recommendations versus not meet ST recommendations. Children aged 5–8 and older children/adolescents aged 9–17 who had easy access to screens were less likely to meet ST recommendations (OR = 0.5, CI 0.224–0.984) and (OR = 0.5, CI 0.324–0.802), respectively, compared to those who did meet ST recommendations. Children aged 5–8 years who believed it was important to follow the guidance of religious leaders were more likely to meet ST recommendations (OR = 5.4, CI 2.423–12.002) compared to those who did not meet the ST recommendation.\n\n\nConclusion\nCommunicating through trusted community figures (such as teachers and religious leaders for younger children and ministries for caregivers) is recommended for future initiatives to increase adherence to guidelines among children and adolescents in Fiji. These initiatives should also emphasise the link between PA and both happiness and academic performance, while exploring ways to support caregivers in enforcing ST restrictions.\n\n"]