Associations of participation in organized sports and physical activity in preschool children: a cross-sectional study
Background Participation in organized sports is associated with higher physical activity (PA) levels in school-aged-children. Yet, little is known about PA determinants in preschool-aged-children. We examined associations between organized sports participation and preschoolers’ daily PA.
Methods The study comprised 290 3-5 years old children and PA was measured for 1 week via accelerometers. Organized sports participation was parent-reported and preschool arrival and departure time was teacher-recorded. The preschool duration reported by teachers was matched with time-stamped accelerometer data to distinguish PA during preschool time and PA outside preschool time. Linear mixed models, nested on preschool level, were used to examine associations between organized sports participation and children’s PA outside preschool time, during preschool time and throughout the day.
Results In total, 146 children (50.3%) participated in organized sports at least 1 hour/week. Participation in organized sports was associated with 6.0 more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (95% CI: 0.6, 11.3) throughout the day and 5.7 more minutes of MVPA (95% CI: 1.6, 9.7) outside preschool time after adjustment. There was no association between organized sports participation and PA during preschool time.
Conclusions This is the first study to show positive associations between organized sports participation and preschoolers’ PA levels outside preschool time and throughout the day. In addition, findings from this study do not support PA compensation. Therefore, targeting organized sports may be successful in improving PA, even among preschoolers.
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Posted 12 Jun, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
On 10 Jun, 2020
On 09 Jun, 2020
On 09 Jun, 2020
On 18 May, 2020
Received 17 May, 2020
Received 29 Apr, 2020
On 28 Apr, 2020
Invitations sent on 27 Apr, 2020
On 27 Apr, 2020
On 24 Apr, 2020
On 23 Apr, 2020
On 23 Apr, 2020
On 23 Apr, 2020
Associations of participation in organized sports and physical activity in preschool children: a cross-sectional study
Posted 12 Jun, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
On 10 Jun, 2020
On 09 Jun, 2020
On 09 Jun, 2020
On 18 May, 2020
Received 17 May, 2020
Received 29 Apr, 2020
On 28 Apr, 2020
Invitations sent on 27 Apr, 2020
On 27 Apr, 2020
On 24 Apr, 2020
On 23 Apr, 2020
On 23 Apr, 2020
On 23 Apr, 2020
Background Participation in organized sports is associated with higher physical activity (PA) levels in school-aged-children. Yet, little is known about PA determinants in preschool-aged-children. We examined associations between organized sports participation and preschoolers’ daily PA.
Methods The study comprised 290 3-5 years old children and PA was measured for 1 week via accelerometers. Organized sports participation was parent-reported and preschool arrival and departure time was teacher-recorded. The preschool duration reported by teachers was matched with time-stamped accelerometer data to distinguish PA during preschool time and PA outside preschool time. Linear mixed models, nested on preschool level, were used to examine associations between organized sports participation and children’s PA outside preschool time, during preschool time and throughout the day.
Results In total, 146 children (50.3%) participated in organized sports at least 1 hour/week. Participation in organized sports was associated with 6.0 more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (95% CI: 0.6, 11.3) throughout the day and 5.7 more minutes of MVPA (95% CI: 1.6, 9.7) outside preschool time after adjustment. There was no association between organized sports participation and PA during preschool time.
Conclusions This is the first study to show positive associations between organized sports participation and preschoolers’ PA levels outside preschool time and throughout the day. In addition, findings from this study do not support PA compensation. Therefore, targeting organized sports may be successful in improving PA, even among preschoolers.
Figure 1
Figure 2