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Research Article
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
Anthony Okely
Early Start, School of Health and Society, Faculty of the Arts, Social Science and Humanities, University of Wollongong, NSW
Corresponding Author
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Background: The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented restrictions on children’s ability to participate in adequate movement behaviours. This international longitudinal study compared young children’s physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep 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 physical activity, sedentary behaviour (screen-time) and sleep 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). PA, sedentary screen time (SST) and sleep were assessed via parent questionnaire. At Time 2, COVID-19 factors including level of restriction, environmental conditions, and parental stress were measured.
Results: 948 parents completed the survey at both time points. Children from LMICs were more likely to meet the PA (AdjOR=2.0, 95%CI 1.0 to 3.8) and SST (2.2, CI 1.2 to 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 recommendations (AdjOR 3.3, CI 1.1 to 9.8) than those who were not. Children of caregivers with higher compared to lower stress were less likely to meet all three guidelines (0.5, CI 0.3 to 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 caregivers’ mental health are important prevention strategies.
Keywords
24-hour movement behaviours, low- and middle-income countries, preschool, outdoors, play, quarantine.
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On 29 Jan, 2021
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On 17 Dec, 2020
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On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #13 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #15 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #5 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #12 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Public Health. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research Article
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
Anthony Okely
Early Start, School of Health and Society, Faculty of the Arts, Social Science and Humanities, University of Wollongong, NSW
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 10 Dec, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 29 Jan, 2021
Review #5 received
Received 12 Jan, 2021
Review #2 received
Received 12 Jan, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 12 Jan, 2021
Review #4 received
Received 12 Jan, 2021
Review #6 received
Received 12 Jan, 2021
Review #3 received
Received 12 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 12 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 12 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 12 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #9 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #14 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #11 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #6 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #10 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #8 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #7 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #13 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #15 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #5 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #12 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 09 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 09 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 09 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 09 Dec, 2020
First submitted
On 20 Nov, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented restrictions on children’s ability to participate in adequate movement behaviours. This international longitudinal study compared young children’s physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep 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 physical activity, sedentary behaviour (screen-time) and sleep 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). PA, sedentary screen time (SST) and sleep were assessed via parent questionnaire. At Time 2, COVID-19 factors including level of restriction, environmental conditions, and parental stress were measured.
Results: 948 parents completed the survey at both time points. Children from LMICs were more likely to meet the PA (AdjOR=2.0, 95%CI 1.0 to 3.8) and SST (2.2, CI 1.2 to 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 recommendations (AdjOR 3.3, CI 1.1 to 9.8) than those who were not. Children of caregivers with higher compared to lower stress were less likely to meet all three guidelines (0.5, CI 0.3 to 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 caregivers’ mental health are important prevention strategies.