A multi-perspective qualitative exploration of the reasons for changes in the physical activity among 10–11-year-old children following the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK in 2021

Abstract

Background Active-6 is exploring how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted physical activity behaviour among Year 6 children (aged 10–11 years) and their parents in Southwest England. Initial findings from the Active-6 project have shown a 7–8 min decrease in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and an increase in sedentary behaviour among children following the easing of restrictions in the UK in latter half of 2021. This finding suggests that the pandemic has had a persistent impact on child physical activity behaviour. This paper explored the possible mechanisms behind these changes. Methods Interviews with parents (n = 21), members of school staff (n = 9) and focus groups with children aged 10–11 years (n = 47) were conducted between August and December 2021 to discuss the impact of the pandemic on child physical activity behaviour. The framework method was used for analysis. Results Five themes spanning two key stages of the pandemic were described. Three themes related to the period of lockdowns and fluctuating restrictions (March 2020 – April 2021). These included: Theme 1) Lockdown: A short-lived adventure; Theme 2) Access to facilities during restrictions; and Theme 3) The importance of the parent. A further two themes were identified related to the period following the gradual easing of restrictions in April 2021. These included: Theme 4) An overwhelming return to normal; and Theme 5) Reopening fatigue. Conclusions The analysis suggested that feelings of novelty experienced during the initial stages of lockdown waned as restrictions were prolonged, creating an increasingly challenging period for parents and their children. However, during periods of restrictions, the importance of parental encouragement and access to appropriate facilities in the local and home environment helped facilitate physical activity. Following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, emotional overwhelm and physical fatigue among children, stemming from a sedentary and socially isolated life in lockdown and other restrictions, were key contributors to the decreased moderate to vigorous physical activity and increased sedentary behaviour that was observed in a related quantitative study.

Screen-viewing behaviours of children before and after the 2020–21 COVID-19 lockdowns in the UK: a mixed methods study

“…Fluctuating levels of restrictions and rules limited most to their homes for large periods of the day. In what has been described as “a short-lived adventure” [ 28 ], a marked increase in feelings of boredom manifested as periods of lifestyle-limiting lockdowns were prolonged. Children expressed significant emotional challenges and a longing for fun reminiscent of their pre-lockdown lives during these periods, and screens provided one of the few opportunities for entertainment.…”

“…The qualitative phases of the Active-6 project are explained in detail elsewhere [ 28 ]. In brief, twenty-one parents, all of whom were mothers, took part in one-to-one semi-structured interviews between September and December 2021, and 47 children from six schools took part in six focus groups in December 2021.…”

Short and medium-term effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns on child and parent accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary time: a natural experiment

“…During the pandemic and the associated lockdowns, many of the contextual cues associated with habitual physical activity for children, such as school, clubs, active travel or playing with friends, were removed for lengthy periods of time, disrupting the automatic processes that underpin the physical activity behaviour [ 37 ]. Habits for complex behaviours such as physical activity take time to develop, which might explain why it has taken a year to re-establish pre-pandemic activity levels, especially if underlying habits have changed towards more structured activities and more sedentary behaviours [ 38 ]. Further quantitative evidence exploring the daily patterns of activity in children is needed to fully understand this potential shift.…”

COVID-19, education and child health

“…This contributes to the pre-existing disparity seen in childhood obesity rates in year 6 between the most and least deprived: 26.9% vs 11.4%, respectively. 17 Following on from the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a universal decline in physical activity among children in the UK 18 ; a burden shared equally with an inequitable impact.…”