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Carson V, Zhang Z, Boyd M, Potter M, Li J, Kuzik N, Hunter S. Moderators of movement behaviour changes among Canadian toddlers and preschoolers throughout the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2024. [PMID: 38815592 DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2023-0453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Primary objectives were to examine: (1) changes in movement behaviours (i.e., outdoor play (OP), organized physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), sleep) across the first 2 years of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) among Canadian toddlers and preschoolers, and (2) intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, and policy moderators of change in movement behaviors. Participants were 341 Canadian parents of children (start of study: 1-4 years; 48% female). Participants completed online questionnaires regarding their children's movement behaviours and intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community factors at five time-points before and throughout the pandemic (T1-T5). Data from government websites were also used for some community and policy factors. Linear mixed models were conducted. Compared to pre-COVID-19 (T1): OP was on average 30 min/day higher at T2 and T3; organized PA was on average 62, 44, and 37 min/day lower at T2, T3, and T4, respectively; ST was on average 67, 17, 38, and 52 min/day higher at T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively; and sleep was on average 30, 36, and 82 min/day lower at T3, T4, and T5, respectively. Significant moderating variables were observed for OP (parental education, parental work inside home, COVID-19 restriction severity), organized PA (children's sex, started kindergarten, nonparental care, parental education, household income, parental employment status, house type, indoor home space and support for PA), ST (nonparental care, parental marital status) and sleep (children's T1 age group, started kindergarten, parental place of birth, parental employment status). All movement behaviors changed across the first 2 years of COVID-19 but patterns and moderators were behaviour-specific. Children from lower socioeconomic status families had the least optimal patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Carson
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Zhiguang Zhang
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Madison Boyd
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Morgan Potter
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Joshua Li
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Nicholas Kuzik
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario - Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen Hunter
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Caldwell HAT, Arthur M, Simms A, Mawhinney H, Hancock Friesen CL, Kirk SFL. Development and implementation of a municipal outdoor play policy for children and youth in Nova Scotia, Canada: a community case study. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1334767. [PMID: 38510347 PMCID: PMC10950929 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1334767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Children and youth benefit from outdoor play; however, environments and policies to support outdoor play are often limited. The purpose of this paper is to describe a case study of the development of a municipal outdoor play policy in Nova Scotia, Canada. The outdoor play policy was developed by the Town of Truro with support from the UpLift Partnership, a School-Community-University Partnership in Nova Scotia, Canada. UpLift supports the health and well-being of school-aged children and youth using a Health Promoting Schools approach which identifies the important role of municipal government in creating healthy school communities. The UpLift Partnership and the municipality hosted online workshops for municipal staff, community leaders and partners that included content about the importance of outdoor play, barriers and facilitators to outdoor play, best practices for youth engagement, the policy development process, and how policy actions can support outdoor play. Workshop participants developed policy actions for their community of Truro, Nova Scotia to increase opportunities for outdoor play for children and youth. Following the workshops, a small team from the municipality and UpLift drafted an outdoor play policy and submitted it to Truro town council for approval. The outdoor play policy was adopted in Fall 2021 and has since informed recreation and municipal planning decisions. By presenting a case study of the development of this outdoor play policy, we hope other communities may be inspired to develop and adopt their own outdoor play policies to benefit children and youth in their communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mike Arthur
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Hannah Mawhinney
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Camille L. Hancock Friesen
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Children’s Nebraska and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Sara F. L. Kirk
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Larouche R, Bélanger M, Brussoni M, Faulkner G, Gunnell K, Tremblay MS. Correlates of Active School Transportation During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Canadian 7- to 12-Year-Olds: A National Study. J Phys Act Health 2024; 21:294-306. [PMID: 38171354 DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Active school transportation (AST) is an important source of physical activity for children and a potentially important climate change mitigation strategy. However, few studies have examined factors associated with AST in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We used baseline data from a longitudinal survey to investigate correlates of AST during the second wave of COVID-19 (December 2020). We collected survey data from 2291 parents of 7- to 12-year-olds across Canada and linked this information with data on neighborhood walkability and weather from national databases. We assessed potential correlates representing multiple levels of influence of the social-ecological model. We used gender-stratified binary logistic regression models to determine the correlates of children's travel mode to/from school (dichotomized as active vs motorized), while controlling for household income. We examined the correlates of travel mode for both the morning and afternoon trips. RESULTS Consistent correlates of AST among Canadian children during the COVID-19 pandemic included greater independent mobility, warmer outdoor temperature, having a parent who actively commuted to work or school, living in a household owning fewer vehicles, and living in a more walkable neighborhood. These findings were largely consistent between boys and girls and between morning and afternoon school trips. CONCLUSIONS Policymakers, urban planners, and public health workers aiming to promote AST should focus on these correlates while ensuring that neighborhoods are safe for children. Future research should monitor the prevalence and correlates of AST as COVID-19 restrictions are removed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Larouche
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Mathieu Bélanger
- Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, NB, Canada
| | - Mariana Brussoni
- Human Early Learning Partnership, Department of Pediatrics, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia; British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Guy Faulkner
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Katie Gunnell
- Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mark S Tremblay
- Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Saunders T, Colley RC. Regional trends in the moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity and screen time of Canadians before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16913. [PMID: 38436001 PMCID: PMC10909361 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health approaches and disease-transmission varied widely across Canadian regions. This may have led to different trajectories for moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and screen time during this period. The purpose of this investigation was to describe age- and gender-specific regional trends in MVPA and screen time for Canadian youth (ages 12-17 years) and adults (ages 18+) from 2018 to 2021. Methods Data was collected using the Canadian Community Health Survey, which includes representative data for 5 distinct regions: Atlantic Canada, Québec, Ontario, the Prairie Provinces, and British Columbia (BC). Participants aged 12+ in each region self-reported their total daily screen time, as well as MVPA in 5 domains: overall, recreational, school, occupational/household and active transportation. Results were compared for 2018 (pre-pandemic), January-March of 2020, September-December of 2020, and 2021 using repeated measures t-tests. Results Among youth, all regions except for Atlantic Canada and BC experienced significant reductions in the proportion of youth meeting MVPA recommendations in the fall of 2020 (all p < 0.001), although these had returned to baseline for all regions except Ontario by 2021. Trends varied across regions among adults aged 18-64 years. In Québec, there was 7-percentage point reduction in the proportion of males meeting the MVPA recommendations in the fall of 2020 compared to 2018, while there was a 4-percentage point increase among females in 2021 (all p < 0.05). In Ontario and the Prairie provinces, males saw a 4-percentage point decrease in activity recommendation adherence in 2021, when compared to 2018 (p < 005). There were no other significant differences for any region when comparing the fall of 2020 or 2021 with 2018 (all p > 0.05). Among adults aged 65+ years, significant increases in MVPA were observed in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies in the fall of 2020, and in Atlantic Canada, Québec and the Prairies in 2021 (all p < 0.05). With limited exceptions, self-reported screen time increased significantly across regions and age groups for both males and females (all p < 0.05). Conclusions MVPA levels of Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic varied both by region and age group. Self-reported MVPA of Canadian youth dropped in most regions in the fall of 2020, before returning to pre-pandemic levels in 2021. Activity levels of Canadians aged 18-64 years were relatively stable during the pandemic and increased for Canadians aged 65+ in most regions. Differences in trajectories across genders observed at the national level were often less apparent in individual regions. Recreational screen use increased across all regions, ages and genders with very few exceptions. These results highlight the differences and similarities in activity and screen time trajectories across the Canadian population and suggest the need for additional research to identify best practices for promoting healthy movement behaviours during future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis Saunders
- Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Rachel C. Colley
- Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Paterson D, Beauchamp MR, Masse LC, Moore SA, Faulkner G. "I'm going to change the WIFI password if you don't go outside!": a qualitative examination of changes in parenting practices over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Sports Act Living 2023; 5:1270516. [PMID: 38192375 PMCID: PMC10773578 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2023.1270516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Parenting practices are an important influence on the movement behaviours of children. Parenting practices are shaped by various contextual factors (e.g., culture, sociodemographic, community) and are susceptible to external pressures, such as health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Situated within the revised Family Ecological Model, the purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore changes in parenting practices over time in relation to the evolving nature of this global event. Methods One-on-one semi-structured interviews with 40 parents of children (aged 7-11) in three Canadian provinces were conducted in August, 2021. A narrative thematic analysis was conducted to develop themes mapping changes in parenting practices and organize the temporal patterns of these changes into shared case trajectories over time. Results Four themes were constructed to highlight changes in parenting practices: (1) Screen time permissiveness, (2) Force and coercion, (3) Agents of unstructured physical activity, and (4) Stepping back from structured physical activity. These themes were organized into three distinct case trajectories that each represent a shared, chronological narrative for how the first 18 months of the pandemic were broadly experienced by parents. The three trajectories were characterized by: (1) Resilience (2) Enduring impact and (3) Adaptive growth. Discussion Parenting practices were changed in response to circumstances in both temporary and enduring manners that may continue beyond the pandemic. Further research is needed to longitudinally assess these trajectories in order to support families and enhance understanding of parenting practices in challenging circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Paterson
- School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mark R. Beauchamp
- School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Louise C. Masse
- School of Population Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sarah A. Moore
- School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Guy Faulkner
- School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Vanderloo LM, Saravanamuttoo K, Bourke M, Zhong S, Szpunar M, Gilliland J, Burke SM, Irwin JD, Truelove S, Tucker P. Parents' attitudes regarding their children's play during COVID-19: Impact of socioeconomic status and urbanicity. SSM Popul Health 2023; 24:101549. [PMID: 38021457 PMCID: PMC10661847 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the daily routines of parents and children. This study explored the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) and urbanicity on parents' attitudes toward their children's active play opportunities 6 months and 1.5 years into COVID-19. Methods A sample of 239 Ontario parents of children aged 12 and younger completed two online surveys (August-December 2020; 2021) to assess parents' intentions, beliefs, and comforts concerning their child's eventual return to play, in addition to various sociodemographic and physical activity variables. Descriptive analyses were run as well as an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to group the 14 attitude items into subscales for analysis, to ensure reliability and validity of attitude measures. Results In general, parents in communities with more urban features (e.g., densely populated areas), single-parents, full-time employed parents, and parents with lower-incomes were more hesitant to return their children to active play during the pandemic. Conclusion Findings from this work highlight SES and urbanicity disparities that continue to exist during COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh M. Vanderloo
- School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, Elborn College, 1201 Western Road, Room 2547, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada
- ParticipACTION, 77 Bloor Street West, Suite 1205, Toronto, ON, M5S 1M2, Canada
| | - Kendall Saravanamuttoo
- Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada
| | - Matthew Bourke
- School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, Elborn College, 1201 Western Road, Room 2547, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada
| | - Shiran Zhong
- Department of Geography and Environment, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada
| | - Monika Szpunar
- Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada
| | - Jason Gilliland
- Department of Geography and Environment, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada
- School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, N6C 2R5, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada
| | - Shauna M. Burke
- School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, N6C 2R5, Canada
| | - Jennifer D. Irwin
- School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
| | - Stephanie Truelove
- Member Interest Groups Section, Professional Development and Practice Support, College of Family Physicians of Canada, Mississauga, ON, L4W 5A4, Canada
| | - Patricia Tucker
- School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, Elborn College, 1201 Western Road, Room 2547, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, N6C 2R5, Canada
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Zhang D, Chen S, López-Gil JF, Hong J, Wang F, Liu Y. 24-Hour movement behaviours research during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic scoping review. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2188. [PMID: 37936168 PMCID: PMC10631189 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17136-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Many studies examining 24-hour movement behaviours based on the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (24HMG) have been published during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no comprehensive reviews summarized and synthesized the evidence concerning studies using 24HMG. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesize the evidence from the 24HMG studies published during the pandemic. METHODS Three electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCO) were utilized to conduct a literature search. The search procedure adhered to the guidelines set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Initially, a total of 1339 research articles published in peer-reviewed journals were screened. After eliminating 461 duplicates, 878 articles remained. The titles and/or abstracts of these articles were then cross-checked, and 25 articles were included. Subsequently, two authors independently assessed full-text of articles based on the pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in the final selection of 16 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Study characteristics (e.g., study population, study design, measurement) were extracted and then summarized. According to the Viable Integrative Research in Time-use Research (VIRTUE) epidemiology, the included studies were further classified into different but interrelated study domains (e.g., composition, determinants, health outcomes). RESULTS The majority of included articles focused on children and adolescents as study population. This study primarily demonstrated that a low prevalence of meeting the 24HMG among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been a decline in the percentage of individuals meeting the 24HMG compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. The majority of included studies focused on sociodemographic factors when examining the correlates of meeting the 24HMG, while a few studies assessed factors of other domains, such as social, cultural, and environmental aspects. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on healthy 24-hour movement behaviours in children and adolescents. In conjunction with the studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, more studies were encouraged to explore the correlates of meeting the 24HMG and the associated health benefits in wider ranges of populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danqing Zhang
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Sitong Chen
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, 8001, Australia
| | | | - Jintao Hong
- Shanghai Research Institute of Sports Science (Shanghai Anti-doping Agency), Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Kun Shan Lu Jia Senior High School, Jiangsu, 215331, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Shanghai Research Centre for Physical Fitness and Health of Children and Adolescents, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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Mitra R, Campbell JE, Vanderloo LM, Faulkner G, Tremblay MS, Rhodes RE, Stone MR, Moore SA. Child and youth physical activity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: The changing role of the neighbourhood built and social environments. Health Place 2023; 84:103127. [PMID: 37751631 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
We explored associations between neighbourhood environments and children and youths' moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during three different waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: spring 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021, using three nationally representative cross-sectional surveys. In wave 2, higher dwelling density was associated with lower odds of a child achieving higher-level MVPA, however, the odds were higher in neighbourhoods with higher density that also had better access to parks. With regard to the social environment, ethnic concentration (wave 3) and greater deprivation (waves 1 and 3) were associated with lower odds of a child achieving higher-level MVPA. Results indicate that built and social environments were differently associated with MVPA levels depending on pandemic restrictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raktim Mitra
- School of Urban and Regional Planning, Toronto Metropolitan University, 105 Bond Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5B 1Y3, Canada.
| | - Julie E Campbell
- School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Leigh M Vanderloo
- ParticipACTION, 77 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1M2, Canada; School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada
| | - Guy Faulkner
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, 6081 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Mark S Tremblay
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Ryan E Rhodes
- Behavioural Medicine Laboratory, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3N4, Canada
| | - Michelle R Stone
- School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada; Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, PO Box 150000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Sarah A Moore
- School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada; Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, PO Box 150000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
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Santi NMM, Gomes CS, da Silva DRP, Szwarcwald CL, Barros MBDA, Malta DC. Prevalence and incidence of insufficient physical activity in Brazilian adolescents during the pandemic: data from ConVid Adolescents. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE EPIDEMIOLOGIA 2023; 26:e230049. [PMID: 37909630 PMCID: PMC10626909 DOI: 10.1590/1980-549720230049.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence and incidence of insufficient physical activity in Brazilian adolescents and identify the most affected subgroups during the pandemic. METHODS This study used data from the "ConVid Adolescents - Behavior Survey", which evaluated the behavior of 9,470 Brazilian adolescents during the period of social restriction due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, through a self-administered online questionnaire. Participants were invited through a virtual "snowball" sampling procedure. Information was reported on the frequency of physical activity before and during the pandemic. The exposure variables used were gender, age group, race/skin color, region of Brazil, type of school, maternal education, financial difficulties during the pandemic, and social restrictions. Logistic regression models were used. RESULTS Adolescents engaged in less physical activity during the pandemic, as the prevalence of insufficient physical activity increased from 71.3% in the previous period to 84.3% during the pandemic. The incidence of insufficient physical activity during the pandemic was 69.6%. The subgroups of adolescents most affected were those who self-declared as black or with dark skin color, reported financial difficulties during the pandemic, lived in the Southeast and South regions of the country, and practiced intense or complete social distancing. CONCLUSION High incidences of insufficient physical activity were observed among Brazilian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is recommended that further studies explore periods after those analyzed to identify the behavioral dynamics of adolescents upon returning to in-person activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathália Mota Mattos Santi
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Pública - Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasil
| | - Crizian Saar Gomes
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Pública - Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasil
| | - Danilo Rodrigues Pereira da Silva
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Departamento de Educação Física - São Cristóvão (SE), Brasil
- Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Faculty of Health Sciences - Providencia, Chile
| | - Célia Landmann Szwarcwald
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Comunicação e Informação Científica e Tecnológica em Saúde - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasil
| | | | - Deborah Carvalho Malta
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Departamento de Enfermagem Materno Infantil e Saúde Pública - Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasil
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10
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Arbour-Nicitopoulos KP, Mitra R, Sharma R, Moore SA. Outdoor Physical Activity and Play Among Canadian Children and Youth With Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From the National Physical Activity Measurement Study. Adapt Phys Activ Q 2023; 40:571-586. [PMID: 36750116 DOI: 10.1123/apaq.2022-0080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
This study explored the association between socioecological factors and outdoor physical activity (PA) and play in children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents (N = 133) completed a survey to report changes in their child's outdoor PA and play during the pandemic (from prepandemic levels), and child, household, and neighborhood environment factors. Children with a PA-supporting parent and from multichild and White households had lower odds of reporting decreased outdoor PA. Children from multichild, higher income, married couple households and a PA-supporting parent had lower odds of decreased outdoor play. Living in neighborhoods with higher urbanization (i.e., high dwelling density, street intersections, and land-use mix) was associated with greater odds of decreased outdoor PA and play. Future research that uses larger and more representative samples of children with disabilities is needed to test for the multivariate effects of socioecological variables on outdoor PA and play.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raktim Mitra
- School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON,Canada
| | - Ritu Sharma
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON,Canada
| | - Sarah A Moore
- School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS,Canada
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Kuzik N, Cameron C, Carson V, Chaput JP, Colley R, Doiron J, Faulkner G, Janssen I, Saunders T, Spence JC, Tucker P, Vanderloo LM, Tremblay MS. The 2022 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth: Focus on the COVID-19 pandemic impact and equity-deserving groups. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1172168. [PMID: 37304090 PMCID: PMC10250634 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1172168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth is the most comprehensive national assessment of physical activity and related behaviors, characteristics, and opportunities for children and youth. The 2022 Report Card assigned grades based on data gathered during the COVID-19 pandemic to reflect this extraordinary time-period in Canada. Further, while not graded, efforts were made to summarize key findings for early years children and those identifying as: having a disability, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomers to Canada, racialized, or girls. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the 2022 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. Methods The best available physical activity data captured during the whole COVID-19 pandemic was synthesized across 14 different indicators in four categories. The 2022 Report Card Research Committee assigned letter grades (i.e., A-F) based on expert consensus of the evidence. Synthesis Grades were assigned for: Daily Behaviors (Overall Physical Activity: D; Active Play: D-; Active Transportation: C-; Organized Sport: C+; Physical Education: Incomplete [INC]; Sedentary Behaviors: F; Sleep: B; 24-Hour Movement Behaviors: F), Individual Characteristics (Physical Literacy: INC; Physical Fitness: INC), Spaces and Places (Household: C, School: B-, Community and Environment: B), and Strategies and Investments (Government: B-). Compared to the 2020 Report Card, the COVID-19 specific grades increased for Active Play and Active Transportation; and decreased for Overall Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviors, Organized Sport, and Community and Environment. There were many data gaps for equity-deserving groups. Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, the grade for Overall Physical Activity decreased from a D+ (2020) to a D, coinciding with decreases in grades reflecting fewer opportunities for sport and community/facility-based activities as well as higher levels of sedentary behaviors. Fortunately, improvements in Active Transportation and Active Play during COVID-19 prevented a worse shift in children's health behaviors. Efforts are needed to improve physical activity for children and youth during and post-pandemic, with a greater emphasis on equity-deserving groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Kuzik
- Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Christine Cameron
- Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Valerie Carson
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Chaput
- Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Rachel Colley
- Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Joe Doiron
- Independent Practitioner, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Guy Faulkner
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ian Janssen
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Travis Saunders
- Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
| | - John C. Spence
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Patricia Tucker
- School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Leigh M. Vanderloo
- School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- ParticipACTION, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark S. Tremblay
- Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Jago R, Salway R, House D, Walker R, Emm-Collison L, Sansum K, Breheny K, Reid T, Churchward S, Williams JG, Foster C, Hollingworth W, de Vocht F. Short and medium-term effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns on child and parent accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary time: a natural experiment. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2023; 20:42. [PMID: 37101270 PMCID: PMC10132917 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01441-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in marked impacts on children's physical activity, with large reductions in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) reported during lockdowns. Previous evidence showed children's activity levels were lower and sedentary time higher immediately post-COVID lockdown, while there was little change in parental physical activity. We need to know if these patterns persist. METHODS Active-6 is a natural experiment using repeated cross-sectional data conducted in two waves. Accelerometer data were collected on 393 children aged 10-11 and their parents from 23 schools in Wave 1 (June 2021-December 2021), and 436 children and parents from 27 schools in Wave 2 (January 2022-July 2022). These were compared to a pre-COVID-19 comparator group (March 2017-May 2018) of 1,296 children and parents in the same schools. Mean minutes of accelerometer-measured MVPA and sedentary time were derived for week- and weekend-days and compared across waves via linear multilevel models. We also analysed the date of data collection as a time series, to explore temporal patterns via generalised additive mixed models. RESULTS There was no difference in children's mean MVPA in Wave 2 (weekdays: -2.3 min; 95% CI: -5.9, 1.3 and weekends: 0.6 min; 95% CI: -3.5, 4.6) when compared to the pre-COVID-19 data. Sedentary time remained higher than pre-pandemic by 13.2 min (95% CI:5.3, 21.1) on weekdays. Differences compared to pre-COVID-19 changed over time, with children's MVPA decreasing over winter, coinciding with COVID-19 outbreaks, and only returning to pre-pandemic levels towards May/June 2022. Parents' sedentary time and weekday MVPA was similar to pre-COVID-19 levels, with MVPA higher than pre-pandemic by 7.7 min (95% CI: 1.4, 14.0) on weekends. CONCLUSION After an initial drop, children's MVPA returned to pre-pandemic levels by July 2022, while sedentary time remained higher. Parents' MVPA remained higher, especially at weekends. The recovery in physical activity is precarious and potentially susceptible to future COVID-19 outbreaks or changes in provision, and so robust measures to protect against future disruptions are needed. Furthermore, many children are still inactive, with only 41% meeting UK physical activity guidelines, and so there is still a need to increase children's physical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Jago
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Rd, Bristol, BS8 1TZ UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS UK
- The National Institute for Health Research, Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, BS1 2NT UK
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ruth Salway
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Rd, Bristol, BS8 1TZ UK
| | - Danielle House
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Rd, Bristol, BS8 1TZ UK
| | - Robert Walker
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Rd, Bristol, BS8 1TZ UK
| | - Lydia Emm-Collison
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Rd, Bristol, BS8 1TZ UK
| | - Kate Sansum
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Rd, Bristol, BS8 1TZ UK
| | - Katie Breheny
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS UK
| | - Tom Reid
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Rd, Bristol, BS8 1TZ UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS UK
| | | | - Joanna G. Williams
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS UK
- Communities and Public Health, Bristol City Council, Bristol, BS1 9NE UK
| | - Charlie Foster
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Rd, Bristol, BS8 1TZ UK
| | - William Hollingworth
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS UK
- The National Institute for Health Research, Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, BS1 2NT UK
| | - Frank de Vocht
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS UK
- The National Institute for Health Research, Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, BS1 2NT UK
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Physical activity in the era of climate change and COVID-19 pandemic: Results from the South Korea's 2022 Report Card on physical activity for children and adolescents. J Exerc Sci Fit 2023; 21:26-33. [PMID: 36341001 PMCID: PMC9621397 DOI: 10.1016/j.jesf.2022.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With intensifying air pollutant levels and the COVID-19 pandemic, physical inactivity of South Korean children and adolescents may be threatened. Therefore, monitoring and surveillance of physical activity (PA) and relevant indicators are important for policy making pertaining to health promotion. Report Card is a third comprehensive evaluation of PA-related behaviors among and the sources of influence for South Korean children and adolescents. Purpose To provide the outcome of the South Korea's 2022 Report Card on PA for children and adolescents. Methods Based on a variety of sources including national surveys collected pre- and during-COVID-19 and information collected from government webpages, 11 indicators were graded by a committee of experts informed by the best available evidence. Data from during-COVID-19 were available for Overall PA, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep and considered together in generating the overall grades. Results Grades were assigned to behavioral indicators (Overall PA: D-; Active Transportation: B+; Sedentary Behavior: D; Sleep: F) and sources of Influence (Family and Peers: C-; School: A; Community and Environment: B-; Government: A). Organized Sport and PA, Active Play, and Physical Fitness could not be graded due to the lack of data. The results largely indicated that children and adolescents show unfavorable behavioral grades even with favorable grades observed for the sources of influence indicators. Trivial differences were observed pre- and during-pandemic for Overall PA (≥60 min of MVPA for ≥4 d/wk: 20.8% vs 19.9%) and Sleep (met age-specific recommendation: 14.1% vs 15.0%); however, a marked increase in Sedentary Behavior was observed (≤2 h/d screen time: 28.8% vs 20.1%). A stark weekday vs weekend difference was observed in sleep duration. In terms of PA related sources of influence, high accessibility to PA facilities (81.1%) and high satisfaction of neighborhood public transit (74.6%) and safety (80.7%) were well reflected in our Active Transportation grade (B+). Nonetheless, perception of green environments including outdoor air quality (44.0%), noise (39.6%) and green space (56.5%) showed lower scores, suggesting that new barriers to active lifestyles are emerging for South Korean children and adolescents. Gender differences were also observed for overall PA (≥60 min of MVPA for ≥4 d/wk: 29.1% for boys vs 11.3% for girls) and sleep (met age-specific recommendations: 17.3% for boys vs 11.4% for girls), but not for sedentary behavior (≤2 h/d screen time: 26.4% for boys and 24.9% for girls). Conclusions Government and school policies/programs and the built environment are, in general, conducive to physically active lifestyles for South Korean children and adolescents; however, behavioural indicators received poor grades except for Active Transportation. A thorough evaluation of policies/programs at government, local, and school levels is needed to ensure that the efforts to have PA-enhancing infrastructure and systems are actually being translated into the behavior of children and adolescents in South Korea. Furthermore, improving PA surveillance, monitoring, and advocacy to ultimately establish healthy lifestyle patterns among children and adolescents is a top priority.
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The Impact of an After-School Physical Activity Program on Children's Physical Activity and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095640. [PMID: 35565035 PMCID: PMC9104064 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: This study evaluated the impact of the Build Our Kids’ Success (BOKS) after-school program on children’s physical activity (PA) and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Program leaders, children, and their parents were recruited from after-school programs in Nova Scotia, Canada, that delivered BOKS programming in Fall 2020. After participating, Grade 4–6 children (n = 14) completed the Physical Literacy Assessment for Youth Self (PLAYself), Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C), the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), and 5 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures Information System (PROMIS) scales. Children (n = 7), parents (n = 5), and program leaders (n = 3) completed interviews, which were analyzed for themes inductively. Results: The average PAQ-C score was 2.70 ± 0.48, PLAYself was 68.23 ± 13.12, and PACES was 4.22 ± 0.59 (mean ± SD). NIH PROMIS scores were below standard means (cognitive function, family relationships) or within normal limits (peer relationships, positive affect, and life satisfaction). A thematic analysis of interviews revealed that children’s PA levels were impacted by the pandemic and that BOKS positively impacted children’s physical well-being and integrated well with school-based activities. Conclusions: Participation in BOKS provided an overall positive experience and may have mitigated COVID-19-related declines in PA in well-being. The results of this evaluation can inform future physically-active after-school programming.
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