Table 3 Associations between child and maternal characteristics and maternal overestimation of their child's physical activity level (n = 438)

Child characteristics

Sex (ref: Male)

1.17 (0.93, 1.47)

Age (in years)

0.74 (0.12, 4.64)

BMI z-score

1.05 (0.93, 1.18)

Has an older sibling living at home (ref: no older sibling)

0.73 (0.57, 0.93)*

0.71 (0.56, 0.90)**

Has a younger sibling living at home (ref: no younger sibling)

1.08 (0.86, 1.37)

Attends nursery (ref: part-time)

Full-time

1.54 (1.13, 2.10)*

1.53 (1.14, 2.04)**

Maternal characteristics

Age (in years)

1.00 (0.97, 1.03)

BMI (kgm^-2)

1.00 (0.98, 1.02)

Age leaving full-time education (ref: 16 or younger)

17 or 18 years

1.19 (0.91, 1.57)

19 years or older

1.00 (0.74, 1.36)

Physical activity level (ref: Inactive)

Moderately inactive

0.94 (0.68, 1.30)

Moderately active

1.09 (0.77, 1.55)

Active

0.74 (0.48, 1.12)

Maternal perception

Child is outgoing (ref: Strongly/disagree/neither)

Strongly/agree

0.93 (0.72, 1.21)

Child is restless (ref: Strongly disagree/disagree/neither)

Strongly/agree

0.85 (0.68, 1.09)

Child is well behaved (ref: disagree/neither)

Strongly/agree

1.42 (1.03, 1.97)*

Child enjoys PA (ref: Disagree/neither)

Strongly/agree

0.92 (0.73, 1.17)

PA is important (ref: Disagree/neither)

Strongly/agree

1.04 (0.81, 1.35)

Physical activity is limited because:

Child is not interested in physical activity (ref: never)

Rarely/sometimes/often/very often

1.02 (0.81, 1.28)

Child doesn’t have the skills (ref: never)

Rarely/sometimes/often/very often

1.31 (1.04, 1.64)*

1.29 (1.03, 1.63)*