Children’s Daily Activities and Well-being during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Associations with Child and Family Characteristics

Abstract

Learning, leisure, social, and movement activities are essential facets of children´s development affecting their physical, mental, and social well-being. During the first Covid-19 lockdown and post-lockdown period, children´s everyday lives were disrupted and altered in significant ways for an extended period, raising several concerns regarding its negative effects. This study investigated children´s daily activities during the lockdown and post-lockdown period, considering child and family factors that influenced their participation, and the effects of daily activities on child well-being. Cross-sectional data were collected during June and July 2020 from a sample of 3 rd and 4 th graders (n = 110) and their parents. Participants reported the intensity of children´s weekly participation in various learning, leisure, socializing, and movement activities, child and family characteristics, and child well-being outcomes. Findings indicate an overall pattern characterized by a higher prevalence of sedentary behaviors (screen time) and a lower prevalence of active leisure and playing activities, particularly among socioeconomically vulnerable children. Compared to boys, girls were less physically active but engaged more in play and social activities. In addition, sleep, active leisure, playing and learning activities, and family coping strategies were linked to better overall child well-being. These findings help identify promising avenues for effective intervention strategies, at the family and community levels, aimed at promoting child well-being and mitigating harm during the present and future crises.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's mental health: A systematic review

“…Mothers were even the sole participants in seven included studies ( 43 , 44 , 47 , 52 , 53 , 57 , 65 ). Compared with mothers, the fathers' participation in research studies was low, so fathers were one of the respondents in ten included studies only [e.g., ( 32 , 39 , 45 , 46 , 48 , 49 , 51 , 60 – 62 , 64 )]. Studies using both parent-child dyads as informants were also dearth ( 40 , 45 , 56 , 58 , 60 ).…”

“…The temporary closure of schools and home confinement to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 translated to a sedentary lifestyle for children, including increased use of screen time and online interactions whereas face-to-face interaction time decreased significantly ( 68 ). Based on the cross-sectional data from Portuguese children studying in 3rd and 4th grade and their parents, Oliveira et al ( 60 ) found that there was a higher prevalence of sedentary behaviors including TV and gaming/internet, i.e., activities that required a higher amount of screen time, particularly among socioeconomically vulnerable children. There were gender differences in screen time, with girls spending more time on watching TV and socializing online.…”

“…Since children were forced to stay at home due to school closures and home confinement, the limited space at home as well as the restricted outdoor opportunities for children to be physically active were drastically reduced ( 70 ). Of the 30 included studies, eight studies ( 50 , 55 , 56 , 58 , 60 , 61 , 63 , 67 ) examined the relations between physical activity and children's internalizing or externalizing behaviors. In an internet-based survey of 1,264 children, Liu et al ( 56 ) found that when compared with children who did not do any physical activity, children with physical activity had a lower risk of hyperactivity-inattention (OR 0.44 for 1–2 days/week; OR 0.56 for more than 2 days/week) and fewer prosocial behavior problems (OR 0.65 for 1–2 days/week; OR 0.55 for more than 2 days/week).…”

Changes in social behavioral developmental risks in preschool children after the first COVID-19 wave: a prospective longitudinal cohort study

“…One study of 2-4-year-olds estimated that every additional hour per day that children watched TV or digital media is associated with a higher mean SDQ score for conduct problems 60 . Another study in primary school children found that playing and learning activities were linked to lower behavioral problems, active leisure was positively associated with physical well-being, and socialization and family activities were linked to better social well-being 61 .…”

Variation in leisure sport conflicts and coping strategies depending on participation type and proximity during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Conflicts arising out of the rapid increase in outdoor leisure sports participants in limited spaces have been primarily related to etiquette, space management, and space planning (22,23). For example, not wearing a mask correctly, talking too much, or drinking beverages during exercise increase others' anxiety about exposure to the virus and cause conflicts among participants (24,25).…”