Author:
Okely Anthony D.,Kariippanon Katharina E.,Guan Hongyan,Taylor Ellie K.,Suesse Thomas,Cross Penny L.,Chong Kar Hau,Suherman Adang,Turab Ali,Staiano Amanda E.,Ha Amy S.,El Hamdouchi Asmaa,Baig Aqsa,Poh Bee Koon,Del Pozo-Cruz Borja,Chan Cecilia H. S.,Nyström Christine Delisle,Koh Denise,Webster E. Kipling,Lubree Himangi,Tang Hong Kim,Baddou Issad,Del Pozo-Cruz Jesus,Wong Jyh Eiin,Sultoni Kuston,Nacher Maria,Löf Marie,Cui Mingming,Hossain Mohammad Sorowar,Chathurangana P. W. Prasad,Kand Uddhavi,Wickramasinghe V. P. Pujitha,Calleia Rebecca,Ferdous Shameema,Van Kim Thanh,Wang Xiaojuan,Draper Catherine E.
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The restrictions associated with the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes to young children’s daily routines and habits. The impact on their participation in movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary screen time and sleep) is unknown. This international longitudinal study compared young children’s movement behaviours before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
Parents of children aged 3–5 years, from 14 countries (8 low- and middle-income countries, LMICs) completed surveys to assess changes in movement behaviours and how these changes were associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were completed in the 12 months up to March 2020 and again between May and June 2020 (at the height of restrictions). Physical activity (PA), sedentary screen time (SST) and sleep were assessed via parent survey. At Time 2, COVID-19 factors including level of restriction, environmental conditions, and parental stress were measured. Compliance with the World Health Organizations (WHO) Global guidelines for PA (180 min/day [≥60 min moderate- vigorous PA]), SST (≤1 h/day) and sleep (10-13 h/day) for children under 5 years of age, was determined.
Results
Nine hundred- forty-eight parents completed the survey at both time points. Children from LMICs were more likely to meet the PA (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AdjOR] = 2.0, 95%Confidence Interval [CI] 1.0,3.8) and SST (AdjOR = 2.2, 95%CI 1.2,3.9) guidelines than their high-income country (HIC) counterparts. Children who could go outside during COVID-19 were more likely to meet all WHO Global guidelines (AdjOR = 3.3, 95%CI 1.1,9.8) than those who were not. Children of parents with higher compared to lower stress were less likely to meet all three guidelines (AdjOR = 0.5, 95%CI 0.3,0.9).
Conclusion
PA and SST levels of children from LMICs have been less impacted by COVID-19 than in HICs. Ensuring children can access an outdoor space, and supporting parents’ mental health are important prerequisites for enabling pre-schoolers to practice healthy movement behaviours and meet the Global guidelines.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health