Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Their Association with Self-Regulation in Chilean Children

Abstract

Background: Self-regulation comprises a series of important competencies, such as the ability to control inner states or responses toward thoughts, attention, emotions, or even performance. The relationship between self-regulation and different healthy lifestyle behaviors among children has not been examined in depth to date. The aim of this study was to explore the association between physical activity, screen time levels, and/or Mediterranean Diet adherence and self-regulation in Chilean children. Methods: A total of 1561 children aged 8–12 years from eight public schools with low socioeconomic status were included. Physical activity, screen time, Mediterranean Diet, and self-regulation were assessed with validated questionnaires. Results: Children who were classified as active or those who reported less than 2 h per day of screen time had higher self-regulation than those who were classified as inactive or counterparts with 2 h per day or more of screen time, respectively. Using joint categories, active children both with low and high screen time showed higher self-regulation compared to inactive/high screen time peers. Additionally, active groups with adherence or non-adherence to the Mediterranean Diet had higher self-regulation compared to inactive and non-adherence peers. Conclusion: Having a greater number of healthy habits, mainly regular physical activity, was associated with higher self-regulation, which might be one potential strategy to promote child social-emotional development.

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Sleep and Self-Regulation in Spanish Preschoolers during the COVID-19 Lockdown

“…This result may be explained by the fact that increased physical activity was associated with higher mental health among children and adolescents [ 24 ]. In this aspect, it also has recently been shown that children who meet the physical activity guidelines have higher life satisfaction, positive affect [ 25 ] and self-regulation [ 26 ] compared to inactive peers. The current results are supported by another study [ 27 ] showing that engaging in physical activity, particularly vigorous physical activity, had a beneficial association with preschoolers internalizing problems one year later.…”

The Moderating Role of Sociodemographic Factors in the Relationship between Physical Activity and Subjective Well-Being in Chilean Children and Adolescents

“…The transition from childhood to adolescence is recognized as a decisive stage in human development, during which individuals may experience intense physical, psychological and emotional changes [ 7 ]. This stage is crucial because it is when autonomy increases with respect to the development of healthy lifestyle habits [ 8 , 9 ]. Well-being at this stage is related to the practice of games, movement, sports, outdoor activities, exercise and physical education classes [ 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…This suggests that the continuous practice of PA produces improvements in mood and a decrease in anxiety, irritability and stress, modulating and regulating psychological and neurobiological processes that generally act positively on the well-being of children and adolescents [ 19 ]. The practice of physical activity is associated with emotional regulation skills, including self-regulation, which plays an important role in the consolidation of healthy lifestyle habits [ 7 , 8 ], and which in turn are associated with higher levels of well-being and quality of life from childhood [ 20 , 21 ]. On the contrary, sedentary habits are associated with poor mental health [ 22 ] in emotional terms and with an increase in the presence of maladaptive coping patterns, associated with a reduction in the use of emotional regulation strategies.…”

Family Context Assessment in Middle Childhood: A Tool Supporting Social, Educational, and Public Health Interventions

“…This is an important fact, precisely because of the high sensitivity to environmental and interactive variables within the family context [62]. Although this evidence is still only correlational, but is important data since these skills form the cognitive infrastructure of self-regulation, which has been related to physical and mental health [63]. We hope to analyze this association in future studies with more robust analyses.…”