The Swiss Preschoolers’ health study (SPLASHY): objectives and design of a prospective multi-site cohort study assessing psychological and physiological health in young children

Abstract

BackgroundChildren’s psychological and physiological health can be summarized as the child’s thinking, feeling, behaving, eating, growing, and moving. Children’s psychological and physiological health conditions are influenced by today’s life challenges: Thus, stress exposure and lack of physical activity represent important health challenges in older children. However, corresponding evidence for young children is scarce. The aim of Swiss Preschoolers’ Health Study (SPLASHY) is to examine the role of stress and physical activity on children’s psychological and physiological health, particularly on cognitive functioning, psychological well-being, adiposity and motor skills in children at an early stage of childhood. We will also assess the role of child and environmental characteristics and aim to define sensitive time points.Methods/designIn a total of 84 child care centers, children at preschool age (2–6 years) are recruited and are assessed immediately and one year later. Assessments include direct measurements of the children in the child care centers and at home as well as assessments of children’s behavior and environmental factors through informants (parents and child care educators).DiscussionSPLASHY is one of the first studies in early childhood aiming to investigate the influence of stress and physical activity on children’s psychological and physiological health in a community-based longitudinal design.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN41045021 (date of registration: 21.03.14)

Correlates of preschool children’s objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior: a cross-sectional analysis of the SPLASHY study

“…A detailed description of the study design has been published previously [18]. Children were recruited from 84 childcare centers in five cantons of Switzerland (Aargau, Bern, Fribourg, Vaud, and Zurich).…”

Association between Body Composition and Motor Performance in Preschool Children

“…due to motor handicap) were not asked for their children to participate. Each child was assessed at his or her child care center on a single afternoon (for details see the study protocol [26]), and parents were asked to complete several questionnaires concerning their child's health and environment. The study was approved by the local ethical committees and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.…”

Physiological stress measures in preschool children and their relationship with body composition and behavioral problems

“…The Swiss Preschoolers’ Health Study (SPLASHY) is a multisite prospective cohort study including 476 healthy children during early childhood within two sociocultural areas of Switzerland (German‐ and French‐speaking part; ISRCTN41045021; for details see Messerli‐Bürgy et al., ). Children were recruited from 84 child care centers within five cantons of Switzerland (Aargau, Bern, Fribourg, Vaud, and Zurich), which together made up 50% of the Swiss population in 2013.…”

“…Recruitment started between January 2014 and December 2015 when children were 2–6 years old. The detailed study design and the overall objectives have been previously described (Messerli‐Bürgy et al., ). The study was approved by all local ethical committees (No 338/13 for the Ethical Committee of the Canton of Vaud as the main ethical committee) and was in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.…”