Adherence to 24‐h movement guidelines among Chinese children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundMeeting 24‐h movement guidelines for children and adolescents has been associated with improved health indicators. However, the literature examining adherence to 24‐h movement guidelines among Chinese children and adolescents with intellectual disability (ID) remains lacking. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of meeting the 24‐h movement guidelines and its socio‐demographic correlates for this population.MethodsThe sample includes 319 Chinese students with ID. Accelerometers are used to measure moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity time and sleep duration. Questionnaires are adopted to measure screen time (ST) and demographic factors. Associations among socio‐demographic factors, body mass index and 24‐h movement are analysed by using multivariable logistic regressions.ResultsThe proportions of participants who meet none, moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity, ST, sleep duration and all three recommendations are 8.15%, 33.54%, 54.23%, 75.55% and 17.55%, respectively. In general, multivariable logistic regression analysis indicates that older participants are less likely to meet the ST guidelines [odds ratio (OR): 0.931; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.869–0.998] and more likely to meet the sleep guidelines (OR: 1.106; 95% CI: 1.016–1.204) than younger individuals. Participants with moderate ID are less likely to meet the sleep guidelines (OR: 0.345; 95% CI: 0.140–0.850) than those with profound ID. Individuals from families with middle‐income (OR: 0.434; 95% CI: 0.226–0.836) and high‐income (OR: 0.219; 95% CI: 0.080–0.605) levels were less likely to meet the physical activity guidelines than those from low‐income families. Furthermore, participants from high‐income families were less likely to meet ST (OR: 0.426; 95% CI: 0.187–0.969) and all three movement guidelines (OR: 0.083; 95% CI: 0.010–0.659) than those in the low household income groups.ConclusionsInterventions that improve the health‐related behaviours of children and adolescents with ID are needed, particularly those that target their increased engagement in physical activity.