Influence of the Parental Educational Level on Physical Activity in Schoolchildren

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper tries to introduce the parental education level on the physical activity of school students. The sampling, number of subjects, and statistical analysis are well performed.

However, the paper is totally weak in novelty. It is complicated to see what new concept or fact the article is trying to add to the world knowledge as a contribution to the literature. Several other studies conducted on the same objectives and even made more profound scientific approaches.

Moreover, the study is relying on solid questionaries. This method of data collecting may not be very suitable because the subject only reflects an estimation of his/her physical or sedentary behaviors. In such a case, tracking the subject for a specific time (24 hours, for example) can provide more accurate results.

The last paragraph of the introduction has irrelative content, which needs to be revised carefully.

Author Response

Dear editor, thank you very much for allowing to re-submit a revised version of the article. We have tried our best to accommodate and address the reviewers’ comments (please see text in red color and track and changes mode).

 

Reviewer 1

 

REV.- The paper tries to introduce the parental education level on the physical activity of school students. The sampling, number of subjects, and statistical analysis are well performed.

AUT.- Thank you very much for your constructive and useful comments.

REV.- However, the paper is totally weak in novelty. It is complicated to see what new concept or fact the article is trying to add to the world knowledge as a contribution to the literature. Several other studies conducted on the same objectives and even made more profound scientific approaches.

AUT.- It is true that there is information in the literature on this topic, however, both concepts (Physical activity and sedentary behaviors) were related to the educational level of parents, in such a wide age range (3 to 17 years), we consider that it is not clearly evidenced in the literature and is the fundamental contribution of this study.

REV.- Moreover, the study is relying on solid questionaries. This method of data collecting may not be very suitable because the subject only reflects an estimation of his/her physical or sedentary behaviors. In such a case, tracking the subject for a specific time (24 hours, for example) can provide more accurate results.

AUT.- Thanks for your comment. The procedures used considered the questionnaire as the best way to obtain youth’s PA information asking to their parents. We are agree that the use of tracking systems would have improved the data collected. But, that approach was not able when conducting the research. Then, we have included some limitations of the study and further research addressing this relevant issue.

REV.- The last paragraph of the introduction has irrelative content, which needs to be revised carefully.

AUT.- Thank you for your comment. The changed was done.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

1: Introduction

Missing some other psychological explanations for differences (i.e. self-regulatory processes, role modelling) that could explain these results (lines 57-68). SES is important but an explanation of possible 3rd variables is also needed since they are not included in the study. Since sedentary behaviours is included, a description of BMI should also be included since this is a measurement of sedentary behaviours (can also be used as a 

Lines 72-79 seem like notes from a reviewer. The introduction is incomplete.

2: Methods

Is there and ethical approval reference number? 

The sample can be visualized in a table by level of education x cm x kg x BMI. Also can the BMI be disucussed in accordance to international standards as his could be a factor even before the study bot for within (3) and between the groups (9).

Statistical analysis: All variables can also be at ordinal levels, espcially physical activity (no reliability reported), and a Kruskal - Wallis H test might be better. How are the questionnaires used providing parametric analysis (Shapiro - Wilkes test is used, but are the questionnaires at the proper analysis level: interval)? 

Line 109 - AF is not defined anywhere in the paper - what is AF (active displacement?)

line 148: (alfa) a=.05 instead of p<.05

line 165-172: reporting the directions and referring to the tables is sufficient.

 

The discussion would need updating to reflect the changes done.

Author Response

Dear editor, thank you very much for allowing to re-submit a revised version of the article. We have tried our best to accommodate and address the reviewers’ comments (please see text in red color and track and changes mode).

1: Introduction

REV.- Missing some other psychological explanations for differences (i.e. self-regulatory processes, role modelling) that could explain these results (lines 57-68). SES is important but an explanation of possible 3rd variables is also needed since they are not included in the study. Since sedentary behaviours is included, a description of BMI should also be included since this is a measurement of sedentary behaviours (can also be used as a 

AUT.- Thank you for your comment. As the aim of this study was to measure the PA of youth students asking their parents and relating that level of PA to the parents’ educational level. Then, we considered that psychological explanations can be a further research. To do so, we have added a limitation of the study and further research focused on this issue.

REV.- Lines 72-79 seem like notes from a reviewer. The introduction is incomplete.

AUT.- Thank you for your comments. The changed was done deleting the paragraph.

2: Methods

REV.- Is there and ethical approval reference number? 

AUT.- Done.  

REV.- The sample can be visualized in a table by level of education x cm x kg x BMI. Also can the BMI be disucussed in accordance to international standards as his could be a factor even before the study bot for within (3) and between the groups (9).

AUT.- Thank you for your comments. The changed was done.

REV.- Statistical analysis: All variables can also be at ordinal levels, especially physical activity (no reliability reported), and a Kruskal - Wallis H test might be better. How are the questionnaires used providing parametric analysis (Shapiro - Wilkes test is used, but are the questionnaires at the proper analysis level: interval)? 

AUT.- Thanks for your comment. The changes were made accordingly, then the KW test was run for the comparisons among PA levels. In addition, as the results slightly changed the discussion section was revised accordingly.

REV.- Line 109 - AF is not defined anywhere in the paper - what is AF (active displacement?)

AUT.- Thank you for your comments. The changed was done replacing AF with PA.

REV.- line 148: (alfa) a=.05 instead of p<.05

AUT.- Thank you for your comments. The changed was done.

REV.- line 165-172: reporting the directions and referring to the tables is sufficient.

AUT.- Thank you for your comments. The changed was done.

REV.- The discussion would need updating to reflect the changes done.

AUT.- The discussion section included a new paragraph of limitations and further research in order to improve the section.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

This research is interesting, but I have the feeling that similiar research has been down before, because the topic and results were not new to me. There should be a short overview on the literature/research on that topic in the beginning.

• In my opinion the methodology should be more precisely explained. Also in the introduction it was not mentioned that this study was done in Spain.
•  you mention some qualitative part of the questionnaire, but in the analysis it was not mentioned anymore
• The age of the infants was not mentioned. I think here it is also difficult to measure PA.
• line 96 and line 120 why "he"?
• line 72-79 includes a whole paragraph which has nothing to do with the study

Author Response

Dear editor, thank you very much for allowing to re-submit a revised version of the article. We have tried our best to accommodate and address the reviewers’ comments (please see text in red color and track and changes mode).

Reviewer 3

 

REV.- This research is interesting, but I have the feeling that similar research has been down before, because the topic and results were not new to me. There should be a short overview on the literature/research on that topic in the beginning.

AUT.- Thank you for your comments. The changed was done.

 

REV.- In my opinion the methodology should be more precisely explained. Also in the introduction it was not mentioned that this study was done in Spain.

AUT.- Thank you for your comments. The changed was done.

REV.- you mention some qualitative part of the questionnaire, but in the analysis it was not mentioned anymore

AUT.- Thanks for your comment. We are sorry for this misunderstanding. There is a questions focused on PA, but it is related to the way that the children use to go froth and back to the school (walking/ bike or by car). Then, the question only accounts for the active or non-active way to go to the school. After a positive answer of this question (active way) the time is collected to have the quantitative measure.

REV.- The age of the infants was not mentioned. I think here it is also difficult to measure PA.

AUT.- Thank you for your comments. The changed was done.

REV.- line 96 and line 120 why "he"?

AUT.- Thank you for your comments. The changed was done.

REV.- line 72-79 includes a whole paragraph which has nothing to do with the study

AUT.- Thank you for your comments. The changed was done.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

I went through the revised version of the paper. The authors did a more detailed literature review. Discussions on the limitation of the study are well written. It is much improved now and can be acceptable for publication.

Line 163: please use the character (α) instead of the word "alpha" or letter "a." To do that, you can use ALT Codes (Check this link: https://www.alt-codes.net/, or google it), or use the function "symbol" under the "insert" menu of the Microsoft Word, or copy and paste it from here: α

Author Response

Dear editor, thank you very much for allowing to re-submit a revised version of the article. 

REV.-Line 163: please use the character (α) instead of the word "alpha" or letter "a." To do that, you can use ALT Codes (Check this link: https://www.alt-codes.net/, or google it), or use the function "symbol" under the "insert" menu of the Microsoft Word, or copy and paste it from here: α

AUT.-Thank you for your comments. The changed was done.

 

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Thank you for the changes. The article reads better. Just needs a language check in some places.

Author Response

Dear editor, thank you very much for allowing to re-submit a revised version of the article. We have revised English (please see text in red color and track and changes mode).

REV.- Thank you for the changes. The article reads better. JJust needs a language check in some places.

AUT.-Thank you for your feedback.We have revised English (please see text in red color and track and changes mode).