A Study on the Relationship Between Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep Duration in Preschool Children

The "supercompensation" effect of children's lockdown during COVID-19: based on the analysis of changes in physical activity, sleep, and psychology

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the "supercompensation" effect of preschoolers during the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown by comparing the changes in physical activity (PA), psychological, and sleep indicators before and after the lockdown.

METHODS

A total of 127 children (aged 3-6 years) were recruited. Before and after the lockdown, the children's PA levels were measured using the ActiGraph GT3X+, and their psychological and sleep indicators were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Child Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ), respectively.

RESULTS

Regarding PA, the children's total physical activity, low-intensity physical activity, and medium-intensity physical activity (MVPA) were higher after the lockdown than before the lockdown, with significant differences in MVPA (p < 0.05). Regarding psychology, the children's SDQ and multidimensional scores were better after the lockdown than before the lockdown, with a significant difference in SDQ scores (p < 0.05). Regarding sleep, the children's CSHQ scores were better after the lockdown than before the lockdown, with a highly significant difference in CSHQ scores (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

After lockdown, children's PA, psychological, and sleep effects were "supercompensated." In particular, the PA of preschoolers before, during, and after the lockdown may show a "baseline-inhibition-supercompensation" process.

A comparative study of different sleep assessment methods for preschool children

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine the differences between different sleep assessment methods for preschool children.

METHODS

Preschool children (n = 54, mean age: 4.6 years) were recruited from kindergarten. Data were collected using an accelerometer, a sleep log, and sleep questionnaire. Furthermore, correlation analysis, Bland-Altman analysis, and repeated measures ANOVA were performed.

RESULTS

(1) The sleep duration evaluated by different sleep assessment methods were all significantly correlated, among which the sleep log and Sadeh algorithm showed the highest correlation (r = 0.972, p < .001), while the Tudor-Locke algorithm and the sleep questionnaire demonstrated the lowest correlation (r = 0.383, p < .01); (2) The points between different sleep assessment methods were all within 95% LoA, except for the sleep log and Tudor-Locke algorithm; (3) In various methods of sleep assessment, significant differences were observed in sleep onset (F2 (1.6,85.0)  = 32.8, p < .001, η2 : 0.38), while no significant differences were observed in sleep offset (F2 (1.5,80.1)  = 32.8, p = .05, η2 : 0.05); (4) In addition, no significant difference in sleep onset was observed between the sleep questionnaire and sleep log (p > .05), and there was also no significant difference in sleep onset between the Sadeh algorithm and the Tudor-Locke algorithm (p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Both the Sadeh algorithm and the Tudor-Locke algorithm can be used as effective algorithms for sleep duration assessment of Chinese preschool children, with the latter having obvious advantages in large sample surveys. Future research should pay attention to the differences between different sleep assessment methods when using these algorithms.

Qualitative study of the association between psychosocial health and physical activity/sleep quality in toddlers

Physical activity and sleep are important factors of mental and physical health in children, with some reports indicating that their effects can persist into adulthood. However, there is limited research on the qualitative aspects of physical activity and sleep in preschool children, particularly in those aged < 3 years. Therefore, to elucidate the association between psychosocial health and physical activity/sleep in early childhood in terms of qualitative aspects, we conducted a retrospective cohort study in 2985 3-year-old children (37.2 ± 0.75 months) in Shanghai, China. An analysis using structural equation modeling indicated that current physical activity had a direct and moderate impact on current psychosocial health evaluated using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. In particular, past physical activity had an indirect and mild effect on current psychosocial health via current physical activity in girls. However, regardless of sex, past sleep quality had slight impact on current psychosocial health, not only indirectly via current sleep quality, but also directly. These findings highlight the importance of considering the qualitative aspects of physical activity and sleep quality as significant factors influencing the current and future psychosocial health of children, even at a very early age (< 3 years).

Examining the impact of physical education and physical skills development on preschoolers' physical and mental health

With greater socio-economic development and the popularization of scientific child-rearing methods, education has become of primary importance in contemporary society. This study attempts to promote the physical and mental health of preschoolers and improve their comprehensive learning ability. To understand the impact of sports skills and Physical Education (PE) on preschoolers' physical and mental health, we utilized the Questionnaire Survey (QS) and expert evaluation. First, the development of sports skills and the basic connotation of sports were expounded. Second, the characteristics of preschoolers and the importance of preschool education were discussed. Finally, the physical and mental health of 60 preschoolers was evaluated based on physical skill development and sports. The results revealed that the respondent preschoolers were grouped reasonably, and the research results had high reference values. In the control group, the physical conditions of four preschoolers changed significantly in the best case. By comparison, in the experimental group, preschoolers with significant physical changes had reached nine at best. In addition, as high as nine respondents showed obvious improvement in their mental state in the best case. Therefore, this study demonstrates that physical skill development and PE significantly impact preschoolers' physical and mental health, which has an important impact on preschoolers' learning. This finding provides a reference for preschoolers' sports skills development and contributes to their comprehensive PE teaching.

Meeting the WHO 24-h guidelines among 2-6-year-old children by family socioeconomic status before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeated cross-sectional study

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed guidelines for 24-h physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour and sleep for young children. Lower socioeconomic status (SES) has been linked to a lower likelihood of meeting these guidelines. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) raised concerns about young children's opportunities to meet the guidelines. The study focused on the prevalence of meeting the WHO's 24-h guidelines on screen time (ST), PA and sleep among 2-6-year-old children, in association with family SES, before COVID-19 outbreak in 2019, and during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 in Finland.

Methods

Data were collected at three timepoints by an online survey through day-care centres. Meeting the WHO 24-h guidelines was defined for each behaviour, from a parent-reported seven-day recall of a typical day on weekdays and weekend days and adapted to the national context. Children were considered to meet the ST guideline if they had maximum of 60 min of ST, the PA guideline if they had minimum of 60 min of outdoor PA, and the sleep guidelines if they had minimum of 11/10/9 h (2/3-5/6 years) of good or very good quality sleep. Binary logistic regression models were used to examine the odds ratios of meeting the guidelines.

Results

The prevalence of meeting the ST guideline was highest before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. The PA guideline was most met during the strict pandemic restrictions in 2020. Children from higher SES families were more likely to meet the ST and sleep duration guidelines either on weekdays or weekends. The PA guideline was met more on weekdays by children whose parents had lower education levels at all timepoints. In 2020, sleep quality guideline was less likely met by children with parents with the highest education levels.

Conclusion

Higher SES may increase the odds of young children meeting the ST and sleep duration guidelines, but the results are more complex regarding PA and SES. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ST, outdoor PA, and sleep of young children varied by family SES, and further research is recommended to identify causality of these relationships.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s44167-022-00010-4.

Preschool Children's Physical Activity and Community Environment: A Cross-Sectional Study of Two Cities in China

Research on the relationship between preschool children's physical activity (PA) and community environment is limited and inconclusive, yet understanding this relationship is important to acquire sufficient information to guide the development of intervention programs. This study aims to objectively measure preschool children's PA and examine associations between PA and the community environments. A total of 471 preschool children aged 3-6 years old were recruited from eight kindergartens in Beijing and Zhengzhou. PA was measured by accelerometers. Light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), and vigorous PA (VPA) were computed on the basis of cutoff points developed for preschool children. Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and total PA (TPA) were obtained by calculation. Children's active transportation modes were indicated by the frequency of active trips (FAT) reported by parents. The community environment was collected by parental scales. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the associations between PA and the community environment. In total, 304 preschool children (mean age 5.07 ± 0.94 years, 50.66% boys) were included in the final analysis. Children spent an average of 77.58 ± 18.78 min/day in MVPA and 173.26 ± 30.38 min/day in TPA. Linear regression showed that 'parental perception of appropriate walking distance' was associated with nearly half of the indicators of the children's PA. 'Public activity facilities near the community' was associated with FAT for overall children (B = 0.099, 95% CI = 0.014, 0.183). 'Community transportation environment' was associated with overall children's average day LPA (B = 4.034, 95% CI = 0.012, 8.056), weekend LPA (B = 8.278, 95% CI = 1.900, 14.657), MPA (B = 4.485, 95% CI = 0.613, 8.357), TPA (B = 14.777, 95% CI = 2.130, 27.424), and FAT for girls (B = -0.223, 95% CI = -0.443, -0.003). Furthermore, 'community personal safety' was associated with boys' weekday VPA (B = -3.012, 95% CI = -5.946, 0.079). Parental perception of appropriate walking distances, improvement of PA facilities, community personal safety, and the community transportation environment all contribute to the prevention of preschool children's PA patterns deterioration.

Examining Relationships among Chinese Preschool Children's Meeting 24-Hour Movement Guidelines and Fundamental Movement Skills

Background: Few studies have investigated associations between meeting 24-Hour Movement Guidelines and preschool children’s fundamental movement skills (FMS). This study aimed to investigate the associations between Chinese preschoolers meeting various combinations of the Guidelines and FMS, as well as examining gender differences across those outcomes. Methods: A total of 322 preschool children (181 boys and 141 girls) aged 3−6 years old were recruited from five early-childhood education and care services in China. Children’s 7-day physical activity (PA) was assessed using accelerometry, and screen time (ST) and sleep duration were reported by their parents. FMS were assessed by Test of Gross Motor Development 3. Descriptive statistics and gender differences in children’s meeting the Guidelines and FMS were calculated using t-tests for continuous variables and Chi-square tests for categorical variables. Results: Most preschoolers met the sleep and ST guidelines, but only 22.3% met the PA guidelines; 4% of preschoolers did not meet any of the recommendations, while 9.3% met all three recommendations. Boys reported significantly higher compliance with all combined recommendations. There were positive associations between meeting the PA guidelines and both locomotor (β = 0.49; p < 0.001) and object control skills (β = 0.21; p < 0.001). A significantly positive relationship was identified between meeting PA + sleep guidelines and locomotor skills (β = −0.16; p = 0.02). A significantly negative association was observed between preschoolers’ meeting sleep + ST guidelines and locomotor skills (β = 0.31; p = 0.001). Conclusion: Few preschoolers met all three movement behavior guidelines. The findings suggest that PA levels, especially MVPA, are important for the promotion of FMS. Meanwhile, the impacts of ST and sleep on motor development cannot be neglected.

Effects of Group-Play Moderate to Vigorous Intensity Physical Activity Intervention on Executive Function and Motor Skills in 4- to 5-Year-Old Preschoolers: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of group-play intervention on executive function (EF) in preschoolers. This group-play intervention was integrated as moderate to vigorous physical activity and cognitively loaded exercise to promote EF in preschoolers. An 8-week group-play MVPA intervention program, consisting of a series of outdoor physical and cognitively loaded games, was designed to improve preschoolers' EF. This intervention program was implemented in group-play form, and conducted by teachers who received standardized training before the intervention. Two classes of second grade preschoolers (N = 62) were randomly allocated to experimental (n = 30, M age = 4.16, SD = 0.29) and control (n = 32, M age = 4.7, SD = 0.43) groups. The intervention group received the intervention three times a week, while the control group exercised as usual in preschool. Before, in the middle of, and after the intervention, 10-m running, standing broad jump, throwing, body flexion, balance beam, and skip jump were assessed as tests of motor skills. In addition, three components of EF were measured separately before, in the middle of, and after the intervention: inhibitory control was assessed by using the silly sound Stroop task, working memory was tested using the empty house task, and shifting was assessed using the dimensional change card sorting task. Although both groups showed an increasing trend in terms of motor skills and EF during the intervention, the increasing amounts of the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group. The findings of the present study suggested that group-play intervention has positive effects on aspects of EF in addition to motor skills in preschoolers.

Compliance with Health-Related Behaviors Guidelines and Its Relationship with Multiple Factors in Preschool Children Aged 3–6 Years: A National Cross-Sectional Survey in China

Purpose: To investigate the compliance rates of health-related behaviors among Chinese preschool children, and to explore how supportive family environment, parental behavior, sociodemographic and community factors affect children’s health-related behavior comprehensively. Method: Preschool children aged 3 to 6 years were chosen from 5760 villages (residential) committees from 471 counties (districts) of 31 provinces by use of a stratified random sampling procedure, with 10,967 preschool children aged 3–6 years old included. The survey was conducted from September 2020 to November 2020. Results: The proportion of Chinese preschool children who met the moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), screen time behavior (ST), and sleep behavior (SLP) guidelines were 62.3%, 52.8%, and 53.8%. Among the supportive family environment factors, parents’ time with their children on weekends had the most significant impact on children’s MVPA, ST, and SLP, with the odds ratio (OR) values of 2.18 (95%CI:1.97, 2.40), 0.69 (0.63, 0.76), and 1.62 (1.48, 1.79), respectively. Among the parental behavior factors, the mother’s exercise frequency had a strong association with the children’s MVPA and SLP, with OR values of 1.65 (1.50, 1.83) and 1.24 (1.13, 1.37), respectively; the mother’s screen time was inversely associated with the children’s ST with an OR value of 0.47 (0.44, 0.51). Conclusions: Different types of family environments were associated with the different levels of MVPA, ST and SLP among Chinese preschool children. In addition to the influence of parents’ education and family income, parents could also improve their children’s behaviors by providing a supportive family environment. The more of these factors presented in a family, the more likely it was for children to meet the guidelines. Therefore, for those families whose children’s health-related behaviors needed to be improved, the parents should create supportive family environments, such as by playing less on mobile phone and spending more time with children.