In addition to parental influence, other psychosocial variables are also reported
frequently as mediators of children’s PA participation. A previous study has indicated
a strong link between parental support and children’s perceptions of physical
competence, enjoyment of PA, self-esteem, motivation, and their PA behaviours
(Brustad, 1996). Another study also reported that children’s perceptions of their own
physical competence were significantly correlated with their parents’ perception of
their children’s physical competence (Dempsey et al., 1993). Parents are able to
influence their children by shaping their activity behaviours, when they share the same
belief system (Kimiecik and Horn, 1998).