Book of Abstracts

Physical activity has been linked to psychological wellbeing and reduced stress in an array of samples (de Sá & Padovan-Neto, 2025; Heaney et al., 2025; Wiklund et al., 2025). However, scant literature has explored the interplay of children’s physical activity, parents’ stress, and parental wellbeing. Preliminary evidence suggests that higher levels of parental stress are negatively related to children’s vigorous physical activity levels (Kobayashi et al., 2019). Higher parental stress has also been associated with childhood obesity (Isasi et al., 2017; Parks et al., 2016). Despite this relationship likely being bidirectional, few studies have explored how children’s physical activity may influence parent outcomes. Specifically, the potential benefits of a physically active child on parental stress and wellbeing.

The aim of the current study is to explore the link between parental stress and parent wellbeing, and the moderating role of children’s physical activity levels. Participants were recruited from a local Head Start program and community events (N = 125 parent and child dyads) in Western Texas. Caregivers and children between the ages of 3 years, 0 months and 5 years, 11 months were eligible to participate. Children’s physical activity was objectively measured using wrist-worn ActiGraph accelerometers. Parental stress levels were assessed using the Everyday Stressors Inventory (ESI; Hall, Williams, & Greenberg, 1985), and parent psychological wellbeing was captured using the Adult Self Report (ASR; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2003). We anticipate that higher levels of children’s physical activity will reduce the negative impact of parental stress on parental wellbeing.