Global effect of COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep among 3- to 5-year-old children: a longitudinal study of 14 countries

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.

COVID-19 Leads to Accelerated Increases in Children's BMI z-Score Gain: An Interrupted Time-Series Study

“…Preliminary and largely self-reported evidence from around the world indicates that during the pandemic, children were more sedentary, engaged in more screen time 35 and less physical activity, 9 , 36 , 37 ate more unhealthy and fewer healthy foods, 9 , 38 and experienced later and more variable sleep schedules. 39 , 40 Engagement in similar behaviors is likely the behavioral mechanism responsible for the accelerated BMI gain in this study.…”

“…29 Furthermore, preliminary, largely self-report studies indicate that children's health behaviors have deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic. 9 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's zBMI.…”

Physical Activity, Screen Time, Sedentary and Sleeping Habits of Polish Preschoolers during the COVID-19 Pandemic and WHO’s Recommendations: An Observational Cohort Study

“…Other papers have focused on sleep schedules/sleep quality in children as well as the suggested WHO recommendations [ 1 , 15 , 16 ]. They aimed to provide strategies for permanent behavior change in order to ensure the health and well-being of children during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as indications of conditions enabling preschoolers to practice healthy movement behaviours and to meet the global guidelines [ 8 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Young children are directly influenced by their environmental patterns and family behavior.…”

Associations Between Movement Behaviors and Emotional Changes in Toddlers and Preschoolers During Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chile

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, living in rural areas was also reported as a factor positively related to smaller decreases in physical activity, declines in sleep quality and increases in screen time ( 25 ). In this context, a study conducted in 14 countries showed that preschoolers who were able to go outside during the pandemic were more likely to meet the PA guidelines ( 26 ). To compensate for the lack of opportunity for some children who live in urban areas, strategies should provide opportunities to access green spaces or open spaces to play in cities while considering physical distancing due to the pandemic.…”

“…Young children's movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep) have been negatively impacted during the pandemic ( 25 , 26 ). This in turn has the potential of affecting other areas of health and development ( 27 , 28 ).…”