Familial aggregation of leisure-time physical activity across three generations: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Familial aggregation of leisure-time physical activity across three generations: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Authors: Yang, Xiaolin; Kukko, Tuomas; Rovio, Suvi P.; Pahkala, Katja; Salin, Kasper; Hutri-Kähönen, Nina; Raitakari, Olli T.; Tammelin, Tuija H.

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Publication year: 2026

Journal: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health

Article number: 14034948251395569

ISSN: 1403-4948

eISSN: 1651-1905

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948251395569

Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access

Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address : https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948251395569

Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/508588669

Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY

Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF

Abstract

Aims:

Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is known to be hereditary for two generations, but its transmission beyond that is less studied. This study examined LTPA aggregation in three-generation families.

Methods:

Data on self-reported LTPA were extracted from the Young Finns Study in 2018–2020, including three generational groups: offspring (G2; aged 7–38 years, n = 2499), parents (G1; aged 43–58 years, n = 1960) and grandparents (G0; aged 58–94 years, n = 2190). In the analysis, G2 was categorized into two age groups: youth offspring (aged 7–18 years) and adult offspring (aged 19–38 years). Correlations, chi-square test and binary logistic regressions were used to compare the differences in LTPA levels (low vs. high) between G1–G2, G0–G2 and G0–G1, stratified by gender and age.

Results:

In the youth offspring group, high-active G1 fathers were more likely to have highly active G2 sons, while high-active G1 mothers were more likely to have highly active G2 daughters when compared with their low-active counterparts. High-active G0 maternal grandmothers had a higher probability of having highly active G2 granddaughters than low-active maternal grandmothers. In the adult offspring group, high-active G0 maternal grandfathers were more likely to have highly active G2 grandsons compared with low-active maternal grandfathers.

Conclusions:

The study highlights the role of familial modelling in shaping LTPA behaviours, especially in younger generations. The findings support targeted, family-based interventions to promote LTPA early in life, considering gender- and age-specific dynamics.

Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.

yang-et-al-2026-familial-aggregation-of-leisure-time-physical-activity-across-three-generations-the-cardiovascular-risk.pdf

Funding information in the publication:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Academy of Finland (grant numbers 356405, 322098, 286284, 134309 (EYE), 126925, 121584, 124282, 129378 (SALVE), 117797 (GENDI) and 141071 (SKIDI); the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture; the Social Insurance Institution of Finland; Competitive State Research Financing of the Expert Responsibility area of Kuopio, Tampere and Turku University Hospitals (grant number X51001); Juho Vainio Foundation; Paavo Nurmi Foundation; Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research; Finnish Cultural Foundation; the Sigrid Juselius Foundation; Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation; Emil Aaltonen Foundation; Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation; Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation; Diabetes Research Foundation of Finnish Diabetes Association; EU Horizon 2020 (grant number 755320 for TAXINOMISIS and grant number 848146 for To Aition); European Research Council (grant number 742927 for MULTIEPIGEN project); Tampere University Hospital Supporting Foundation; Finnish Society of Clinical Chemistry; the Cancer Foundation Finland; pBETTER4U_EU (Preventing obesity through Biologically and bEhaviorally Tailored inTERventions for you; project 101080117); CVDLink (EU grant number 101137278), the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, and Academy of Finland (research fellowship number 322112).