Why Do Children Engage in Sedentary Behavior? Child- and Parent-Perceived Determinants

Long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's physical activity and sedentary behavior

Background

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, decreases in physical activity (PA) and increases in sedentary behavior (SB) were reported among children in the United States (U.S.). This follow-up analysis examines 13-month effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's PA and SB one year into the pandemic.

Methods

Parents of 5-13-year-old children in the U.S. (N = 71) reported on their child's PA and SB during the early COVID-19 period (April-May 2020) and again 12-14 months later (June-July 2021).

Results

Paired t-tests showed significant within-subject reductions in SB minutes per day (M diff = -86.20, t = 3.26, p < 0.01) but no changes in PA minutes per day. Separate mixed-model repeated-measures analysis of covariance procedures found that within-subject changes in PA and SB did not differ by child sex or age.

Conclusion

As COVID-19 restrictions lessened, there were more opportunities for children to reduce SB, but there were still barriers to engage in PA.

Leisure screen time predicts free sugar consumption in children

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate free sugar consumption (FSC) in relation to leisure screen time in children.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data of 424 healthy Saudi children ages 6 to 12 y were included in this study. Data pertaining to sociodemographic characteristics and leisure screen time (including time spent viewing TV, gaming, and use of electronic devices [e.g., computer, tablet, and smartphone]) in children were collected from mothers via an online questionnaire. A phone interview was later conducted with the mother and child to assess FSC using a previously validated 40-item food frequency questionnaire.

RESULTS

Our data found that a large proportion of children exceeded the maximum limit of screen time recommended for children, of ≤2 h/d (61.7%; n = 262). Child and maternal ages and child's birth order among siblings were significantly associated with the duration of leisure screen time (screen time within the recommendation of ≤2 h/d versus screen time that exceeded the recommendation; P < 0.050). Exceeding the recommendation of screen time predicted an increase of 8.96 g/d of FSC from liquid foods, 10.7 g/d of FSC from solid foods, and 19.3 g/d of total FSC.

CONCLUSIONS

Exceeding the recommendation of screen time is associated with greater FSC in children. Future interventions should be directed toward restricting screen time and FSC in children.

Paternal preconception modifiable risk factors for adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes: a review of contemporary evidence from observational studies

BACKGROUND

The preconception period represents transgenerational opportunities to optimize modifiable risk factors associated with both short and long-term adverse health outcomes for women, men, and children. As such, preconception care is recommended to couples during this time to enable them to optimise their health in preparation for pregnancy. Historically, preconception research predominately focuses on maternal modifiable risks and health behaviours associated with pregnancy and offspring outcomes; limited attention has been given to inform paternal preconception health risks and outcomes. This systematic review aims to advance paternal preconception research by synthesising the current evidence on modifiable paternal preconception health behaviours and risk factors to identify associations with pregnancy and/or offspring outcomes.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, Maternity and Infant care, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and ISI Proceedings were searched on the 5^th of January 2023, a date limit was set [2012-2023] in each database. A Google Scholar search was also conducted identifying all other relevant papers. Studies were included if they were observational, reporting associations of modifiable risk factors in the preconception period among males (e.g., identified as reproductive partners of pregnant women and/or fathers of offspring for which outcomes were reported) with adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Exposure and outcome heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis, and results were summarised in tables.

RESULTS

This review identified 56 cohort and nine case control studies. Studies reported on a range of risk factors and/or health behaviours including paternal body composition (n = 25), alcohol intake (n = 6), cannabis use (n = 5), physical activity (n = 2), smoking (n = 20), stress (n = 3) and nutrition (n = 13). Outcomes included fecundability, IVF/ISCI live birth, offspring weight, body composition/BMI, asthma, lung function, leukemia, preterm birth, and behavioural issues. Despite the limited number of studies and substantial heterogeneity in reporting, results of studies assessed as good quality showed that paternal smoking may increase the risk of birth defects and higher paternal BMI was associated with higher offspring birthweight.

CONCLUSION

The current evidence demonstrates a role of paternal preconception health in influencing outcomes related to pregnancy success and offspring health. The evidence is however limited and heterogenous, and further high-quality research is needed to inform clinical preconception care guidelines to support men and couples to prepare for a health pregnancy and child.

A Nature’s Way—Our Way Pilot Project Case Assemblage: (Re)Storying Child/Physical Literacy/Land Relationships for Indigenous Preschool-Aged Children’s Wholistic Wellness

Physical literacy (PL) is gaining more attention from educational policy-makers, practitioners, and researchers as a way to improve health and wellness outcomes for children and youth. While the development of PL is important for early years children, there is limited attention in the literature that explores the political, cultural, and social discourses imbued in colonialism that implicate how PL is actualized in Indigenous early childhood education (ECE) contexts. This case assemblage explores how the culturally rooted, interdisciplinary, and community-based PL initiative, Nature’s Way–Our Way (NWOW), negotiated movement with three early childhood educators in the pilot project with an early childhood education centre (ECEC) in Saskatchewan, Canada. Through postqualitative approaches to research, this case assemblage adopts new materialist methodologies to show how the natural order of knowing in movement was disrupted through moments of rupture generating stories of PL to encompass radical relationality with land. As land becomes a vital and lively part of PL storying, it can function as an important protective factor for Indigenous preschool-aged children’s wholistic wellness.

Association between Pulmonary Function and Body Composition in Children and Adolescents with and without Obesity

Lung function in children and adolescents with obesity must consider the coexistence of two complex and related phenomena: obesity and growth. The assessment of body composition can identify changes in respiratory dynamics arising, exclusively or jointly, from adiposity and lean body mass. This study aimed to compare pulmonary function and the dysanapsis indices of children and adolescents without asthma, with and without obesity, considering body composition, pubertal development, and physical activity practice. We performed a cross-sectional study with 69 participants, 41 (59.42%) of whom have obesity. All participants carried out spirometry and the assessment of, respectively, body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, vital signs, pubertal development, and physical activity practice. In our data, the group with obesity had higher values of forced vital capacity (FVC) and lower values of the ratio between forced expiratory volume in one second and FVC (FEV₁/FVC). Analyzing the entire sample, we found a positive correlation between FVC and a negative correlation between FEV₁/FVC with fat mass markers. At the same time, inspiratory capacity, expiratory reserve volume, and peak expiratory flow were correlated with lean body mass markers. In addition, participants with obesity presented a lower dysanapsis index. In conclusion, children and adolescents with obesity showed increased FVC and reduced FEV₁/FVC. Our findings are possibly related to the increase in fat mass, not to lean body mass. We hypothesize that these findings are associated with the dysanaptic growth pattern, which is higher in obesity, evidenced by the reduction of the dysanapsis index.

Fracture incidence in children and adolescents 0-19 years old in Mexico: a 12-year cross-sectional analysis

The objective was to know the behavior of fractures in Mexican children and adolescents. According to our study, fractures in Mexican male children and adolescents seem to be decreasing; however, we still need more national studies to know the possible causes of these fractures.

PURPOSE

To describe the trends of fractures in Mexican children and adolescents across a 12-year period (2007 to 2019), and to analyze if these trends have changed over time between sexes and age groups.

METHODS

We identified all fracture cases registered in children and adolescents (0 to 19 years) at the emergency rooms and surgical departments of the Mexican Institute of Social Security between January 2007 and December 2019. We used ICD-10 to classify the fractures. The population was divided into two age groups: children (0 to 9 years) and adolescents (10 to 19 years). Additional information regarding sex and age was gathered up as well. We calculated annual incidence; incidence rates are presented per 10,000 population at risk. Changes in fracture trends were calculated using the average annual percentage change (AAPC).

RESULTS

Over 12 years, 1,400,443 fractures were registered. The most frequent site of fracture was forearm in 37.1% followed by shoulder (18.1%). The overall rates of fractures have remained similar over 12 years (86.5, IQR 81.0-94.2); however, a significant decrease in fractures was observed the last 3 years (2017-2019). According to the AAPC, only in men, in both age groups, a significant decrease in fractures was observed.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study in Mexico to follow the behavior of fractures in the pediatric population over 12 years. Fractures seem to be decreasing in children and adolescents. An epidemiological follow-up of childhood fractures is necessary to understand the causes of fractures to generate better prevention and treatment strategies.

Development of a core outcome set for school-based intervention studies on preventing childhood overweight and obesity: study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Prevention of childhood overweight is an important health priority. Evidence synthesis from studies evaluating school-based overweight preventive interventions is hampered by the wealth of different outcomes across studies. Therefore, consensus on a core set of outcomes for school-based overweight prevention studies is needed. This paper presents the protocol for the development of a core outcome set (COS) for school-based intervention studies aimed at childhood overweight prevention.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

First, a scoping review will be performed to identify outcomes included in studies evaluating school-based overweight prevention interventions in 6-12 year-old children. Additionally, child focus groups will be organised in three countries to list the outcomes children consider important in school-based interventions. Next, an expert panel will identify all unique outcomes (eg, body composition) from the results of the scoping review and focus groups, ruling out how outcomes were defined and measured (eg, body mass index, body fat). In the next phase, a group of international stakeholders will participate in a Delphi study in which they will rate all unique outcomes on a 9-point Likert scale over three rounds to reach consensus on a COS. Participants will include healthcare professionals, policymakers, teachers, school leaders and parents of 6-12 year-olds. All rated outcomes will be presented to stakeholders in two online consensus meetings.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Medical Ethics Committee of the VU Medical Center approved the child focus group study in the Netherlands (nr. 2020.071) and the Delphi study-including the consensus meeting (nr. 2022.0295). Other sites will obtain ethics approval for focus groups in their country. The University of Strathclyde School of Psychological Sciences ethics committee approved the Delphi study-including consensus meeting (nr. 72.27.04.2022 .A). The final COS will be disseminated through the diverse networks of all authors and participants.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

This COS initiative is registered with the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness initiative (registration nr. 971).

Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on the movement behaviors of children and youth: A scoping review of evidence after the first year

PURPOSE

The objective of this scoping review was to summarize systematically the available literature investigating the relationships between the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep) of school-aged children (aged 5-11 years) and youth (aged 12-17 years) in the first year of the COVID-19 outbreak.

METHODS

Searches for published literature were conducted across 6 databases on 2 separate search dates (November 25, 2020, and January 27, 2021). Results were screened and extracted by 2 reviewers (DCP and KR) independently, using Covidence. Basic numeric analysis and content analysis were undertaken to present thematically the findings of included studies according to the associated impact on each movement behavior.

RESULTS

A total of 1486 records were extracted from database searches; of those, 150 met inclusion criteria and were included for analysis. Of 150 articles, 110 were empirical studies examining physical activity (n = 77), sedentary behavior/screen time (n = 58), and sleep (n = 55). Results consistently reported declines in physical-activity time, increases in screen time and total sedentary behavior, shifts to later bed and wake times, and increases in sleep duration. The reported impacts on movement behaviors were greater for youth than for children.

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic is related to changes in the quantity and nature of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep among children and youth. There is an urgent need for policy makers, practitioners, and researchers to develop solutions for attenuating adverse changes in physical activity and screen time among children and youth.

Adolescents' physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of mothers' perspectives

BACKGROUND

Socio-behavioural adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic may have significantly affected adolescents' lifestyle. This study aimed to explore possible reasons affecting changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Indonesian adolescents during the pandemic based on mothers' perspectives.

METHODS

We recruited parents (n = 20) from the Yogyakarta region of Indonesia (July-August 2020) using purposive and snowball sampling. Individual interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and anonymised. Data were imported into NVivo software for a reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The interviews lasted between 38 and 113 min (M = 65 min). Participants' age ranged between 36 and 54 years (M = 42.6 years). Participants' children ranged in age from 12 to 15 years (M = 13.7 years, female: 9, male: 11). Themes related to changes in physical activity during the pandemic were 1) self-determination and enjoyment, 2) supports from others, and 3) physical activity facilities and equipment. Themes related to changes in sedentary behaviour during the pandemic included 1) educational demands, 2) psychological effects due to the pandemic, 3) devices and internet availability, 4) parental control, and 5) social facilitators.

CONCLUSIONS

During the pandemic, mothers perceived their children to be less active and using more screen-based devices, either for educational or recreational purposes, compared to before. The present themes might be useful when developing interventions and policies promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour in adolescents. Interventions could, for example, consider increasing parents' and adolescents' awareness on current activity guidelines, providing education on healthier recreational screen time, and involving parents, peers, and teachers. Increasing the accessibility of physical activity facilities and equipment, making use of adolescents' favourite program and social media for interventions, and providing activities that are fun and enjoyable may also important.

Professionals' and Students' Perceived Needs for an Online Supportive Application for Reducing School Absence and Stimulating Reintegration: Concept Mapping Study

Background

To limit students’ medical absenteeism and premature school dropout in the Netherlands, the Medical Advice for Sick-reported Students (MASS) intervention was developed to enhance collaboration between students, parents, school, and health care professionals. MASS reduces medical absenteeism. However, it does not yet optimally support professionals in monitoring students nor automatically stimulating students’ autonomy regarding their situation.

Objective

This study aimed to identify professionals’ and students’ perceived need for an online supportive application to monitor and reduce absenteeism and stimulate student autonomy and school reintegration.

Methods

Concept mapping sessions were held with professionals (n=23) and secondary school students (n=27) in group meetings or online to identify their perspectives and needs. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical clustering were done with Ariadne 3.0 software. The resulting concept maps were reclustered and interpreted by 4 researchers.

Results

Three heterogeneous groups of professionals generated 17 clusters (135 unique statements), with a mean importance rating ranging from 2.9 to 4.6 on a Likert scale with scores ranging from 1 to 5. Three heterogeneous groups of secondary school students generated 18 clusters (95 unique statements), with a mean importance rating ranging from 3.2 to 4.6. Professionals considered as most important the following: easily accessible contact with students; supporting, motivating, and rewarding students; monitoring absent students; providing information to students and their parents; exchanging information between professionals. Students considered as most important the following: better teacher-student communication and respect; communication between school professionals on the one hand and parents, other professionals, and students on the other hand; guidance in missed learning materials and tests. Students perceived an online format for support as the obvious option.

Conclusions

Both professionals and students were positive about an online application to support students in dealing with medical absenteeism, especially considering the need for better and easily accessible contact between students and professionals. An eHealth or mobile health (mHealth) application addressing these aspects could stimulate student autonomy and have positive effects on medical absenteeism.

Leading by Example: Association Between Mother and Child Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior

PURPOSE

The authors examined the relationship between mother and child activity.

METHODS

The authors compared moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time of low-income mothers with obesity and their 6- to 12-year-old children on week (WD) and weekend (WE) days. A total of 196 mother-child pairs wore accelerometers simultaneously for a week. Mothers completed questionnaires. Spearman correlation and multivariate regression were used.

RESULTS

WE MVPA (accelerometry) was significantly correlated between mothers with children aged 6-7 (rs = .35) and daughters (rs = .27). Self-reported maternal PA time spent with one of their children was significantly correlated with the WE MVPA of all children (rs = .21) and children aged 8-10 (rs = .22) and with the WD MVPA of all children (rs = .15), children aged 8-10 (rs = .23), aged 11-12 (rs = .52), and daughters (rs = .37), and inversely correlated to the WD sedentary time of all children (rs = -.21), children aged 8-10 (rs = -.30), aged 11-12 (rs = -.34), daughters (rs = -.26), and sons (rs = -.22). In multivariate regression, significant associations were identified between reported child-mother PA time together and child MVPA and sedentary time (accelerometry).

CONCLUSIONS

Mothers may influence the PA levels of their children with the strongest associations found in children aged 6-7 and daughters. Mother-child coparticipation in PA may lead to increased child MVPA and decreased sedentary behavior.

Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep Duration of Children Aged 6-9 Years in 25 Countries: An Analysis within the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) 2015-2017

BACKGROUND

Children are becoming less physically active as opportunities for safe active play, recreational activities, and active transport decrease. At the same time, sedentary screen-based activities both during school and leisure time are increasing.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate physical activity (PA), screen time, and sleep duration of girls and boys aged 6-9 years in Europe using data from the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI).

METHOD

The fourth COSI data collection round was conducted in 2015-2017, using a standardized protocol that included a family form completed by parents with specific questions about their children's PA, screen time, and sleep duration.

RESULTS

Nationally representative data from 25 countries was included and information on the PA behaviour, screen time, and sleep duration of 150,651 children was analysed. Pooled analysis showed that: 79.4% were actively playing for >1 h each day, 53.9% were not members of a sport or dancing club, 50.0% walked or cycled to school each day, 60.2% engaged in screen time for <2 h/day, and 84.9% slept for 9-11 h/night. Country-specific analyses of these behaviours showed pronounced differences, with national prevalences in the range of 61.7-98.3% actively playing for >1 h/day, 8.2-85.6% were not members of a sport or dancing club, 17.7-94.0% walked or cycled to school each day, 32.3-80.0% engaged in screen time for <2 h/day, and 50.0-95.8% slept for 9-11 h/night.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of engagement in PA and the achievement of healthy screen time and sleep duration are heterogenous across the region. Policymakers and other stakeholders, including school administrators and parents, should increase opportunities for young people to participate in daily PA as well as explore solutions to address excessive screen time and short sleep duration to improve the overall physical and mental health and well-being of children.

Perceived Determinants of Children's Inadequate Sleep Health. A Concept Mapping Study among Professionals

An increasing number of children experience inadequate sleep, which negatively effects their health. To promote healthy sleep among children, it is essential to understand the underlying determinants. This online concept mapping study therefore explores potential determinants of children’s inadequate sleep as perceived by professionals with expertise in the sleep health of children aged 4–12 years. Participants (n = 27) were divided in three groups: (1) doctors (n = 9); (2) nurses (n = 11); (3) sleep experts (n = 7). Participants generated potential determinants (i.e., ideas) of children’s inadequate sleep. Subsequently, they sorted all ideas by relatedness and rated their importance. These data were analysed using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. The results of all three groups were combined and validated by an additional group of professionals (n = 16). A large variety of perceived determinants were identified. The most important determinants perceived by all groups belonged to the categories psychosocial determinants (i.e., worrying, a change in daily life), daytime and evening activities (i.e., screen use before bedtime, stimulating game play before bedtime, inadequate amount of daytime physical activity), and pedagogical determinants (i.e., inconsistent sleep schedule, lack of a bedtime routine). These perspectives are valuable for future longitudinal studies on the determinants of children’s sleep and the development of future healthy sleep interventions.

The prevalence of physical inactivity in Iranian adolescents and the impact of economic and social inequalities on it: results of a National Study in 2018

BACKGROUND

This study aims to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity in Iranian adolescents aged 10-12 years and the impact of socioeconomic inequality on it.

METHODS

In this descriptive study, the study population consisted of 10-12 years old adolescents from an Iranian population from Kurdistan, Fars and Markazi provinces in 2018. The sample size was 1590 individuals. The sampling method was cluster sampling. Data was collected using demographic questionnaire, modifiable activity questionnaire (MAQ) and socioeconomic questionnaire. Cut points on the MAQ for light activity, moderate activity and heavy activity were MET< 3, MET = 3-6 and MET> 6, respectively. Linear and logistic regression were used to estimate the final model and the Oaxaca analysis method was applied. All analyses were performed in Stata/SE 14.0.

RESULTS

Of the 1590 participants, 52.82% were male. The results showed that 25.79% of the subjects were physically inactive and 7.30% engaged in moderate physical activity during the week. The average physical activity during 1 week was more in boys than in girls (P-value< 0.05). Adolescents of mothers with secondary and high school education were more likely to have physical inactivity than mothers with a high school diploma or higher (AOR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.02-1.77). The concentration index was -.11, indicating a greater concentration of physical inactivity in adolescents with low socioeconomic levels.

CONCLUSION

One-fourth of the study population had physical inactivity in this age group. Socioeconomic levels, parental literacy, and sex of adolescents were associated with the level of physical activity.

Co-creating a 24-hour movement behavior tool together with 9-12-year-old children using mixed-methods: MyDailyMoves

BACKGROUND

All 24-h movement behaviors, i.e. physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep, are important for optimal health in children. Currently, no tools exist that include all 24-h behaviors and have been proven to be both reliable and valid. Potential reasons for the inadequate validity and reliability of existing questionnaires are the lack of focus on the content validity and lack of involvement of children in the development. Therefore, the aim of this study was to co-create a 24-h movement behavior tool together with 9-12-year-old children.

METHODS

Concept mapping and photovoice meetings were held to identify children's physical activity behaviors. During concept mapping meetings with four groups of children (n = 40), children generated an extensive list of physical activities they engaged in, sorted the activities in categories and rated the frequency and perceived intensity of these activities. Using photovoice, three groups of children (n = 24) photographed their physical activities during one weekday and one weekend day, named the photographs, and placed them on a timeline. Furthermore, researchers obtained information on relevant items regarding sleep and sedentary behavior by screening existing questionnaires. Thereafter, we developed the first version of MyDailyMoves. Subsequently, we examined the content validity of the tool together with three groups of children (n = 22) and one group of researchers (n = 7) using focus group meetings.

RESULTS

MyDailyMoves has a timeline format, onto which children add the activities they performed the previous day. Based on the concept mapping and photovoice studies, eight physical activity categories were included: playing inside, playing outside, sports, hobbies, chores, personal care, transport, and others. Sleep questions and two more sedentary categories (schoolwork and screen time) were added to MyDailyMoves to define and complete the timeline. The content validity study showed that all items in the tool were relevant. However, children mentioned that the activity category 'eating' was missing and the understandability of how to use the tool should be improved by adding an explanatory video. Both suggestions were adopted in the second version.

CONCLUSION

Including the children's perceptions throughout the tool development process resulted in a comprehensive and practical tool which is easy for children to use.

Child and Parent Perceived Determinants of Children's Inadequate Sleep Health. A Concept Mapping Study

Many children do not meet the recommendations for healthy sleep, which is concerning given the potential negative effects on children’s health. To promote healthy sleep, it is crucial to understand its determinants. This concept mapping study therefore explores perspectives of children and parents on potential determinants of children’s inadequate sleep. The focus lies on 9–12 year old children (n = 45), and their parents (n = 33), from low socioeconomic neighbourhoods, as these children run a higher risk of living in a sleep-disturbing environment (e.g., worries, noise). All participants generated potential reasons (i.e., ideas) for children’s inadequate sleep. Next, participants sorted all ideas by relatedness and rated their importance. Subsequently, multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analyses were performed to create clusters of ideas for children and parents separately. Children and parents both identified psychological (i.e., fear, affective state, stressful situation), social environmental (i.e., sleep schedule, family sleep habits), behavioural (i.e., screen behaviour, physical activity, diet), physical environmental (i.e., sleep environment such as temperature, noise, light), and physiological (i.e., physical well-being) determinants. These insights may be valuable for the development of future healthy sleep interventions.

Global Health Determinants Perceived and Expressed by Children and Adolescents Between 6 and 17 Years: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

Aim: To identify the determinants of global health in the literature as perceived and expressed by children and adolescents in order to adapt prevention actions to this young audience. To also question the pertinence of a qualitative approach when interviewing children. Method:Systematic review of the literature from PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, PsycINFO databases. The studies selected used qualitative methods alone for investigating the views of health determinants in children and adolescents. Results:185 articles were read to reach a final selection of 13 articles on global health, excluding studies with children who were ill, studies using quantitative, mixed, or retrospective methodologies, and those dealing exclusively with themes of health. Collecting information from children and adolescents showed the pertinence and effectiveness of qualitative methods. It also appears necessary to explore new paths: improving and adapting the tools and methodological supports used and combining them to enrich repositories. Conclusion:The small amount of qualitative data available with the views of children and adolescents on health determinants requires that new studies with better adapted collection methodologies be set up. To increase pertinence and effectiveness among a young audience, it is necessary, considering the methodologies identified during this literature review, to turn toward a multi-phase method that combines these methods. A methodology in several phases allows each one to use a different approach with young people and to obtain richer and more varied information. A corpus of images appeared as a powerful tool for collection: it facilitates children's capacity for oral expression and places the researcher in a position of listening.

Diet and physical activity changes among low-income families: perspectives of mothers and their children

Purpose: The current study explored how mothers and their children influence each other's diet and physical activity. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with women with diabetes and their children (N = 18) from eight low-income families. Results: Two approaches to changes emerged: collaborative and non-collaborative. Families using collaborative approaches believed they could sustain positive changes through accepting family changes, encouragement, abstaining from buying certain foods, modelling and compromise. Within families using non-collaborative approaches, some challenges included using more individualistic approaches and poor communication. Lack of information and resource constraints challenged all families. Conclusion: Interventions should reinforce family collaborative approaches and teach skills for families to work together towards a healthier lifestyle.

Promoting Factors for Physical Activity in Children with Asthma Explored through Concept Mapping

For children with asthma, physical activity (PA) can decrease the impact of their asthma. Thus far, effective PA promoting interventions for this group are lacking. To develop an intervention, the current study aimed to identify perspectives on physical activity of children with asthma, their parents, and healthcare providers. Children with asthma between 8 and 12 years old (n = 25), their parents (n = 17), and healthcare providers (n = 21) participated in a concept mapping study. Participants generated ideas that would help children with asthma to become more physically active. They sorted all ideas and rated their importance on influencing PA. Clusters were created with multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. The researchers labelled the clusters as either environmental or personal factors using the Physical Activity for people with a Disability model. In total, 26 unique clusters were generated, of which 17 were labelled as environmental factors and 9 as personal factors. Important factors that promote physical activity in children with asthma according to all participating groups are asthma control, stimulating environments and relatives, and adapted facilities suiting the child’s needs. These factors, supported by the future users, enable developing an intervention that helps healthcare providers to promote PA in children with asthma.

Associations of Class-Time Sitting, Stepping and Sit-to-Stand Transitions with Cognitive Functions and Brain Activity in Children

Previous research showed that children’s physical activity is positively related to executive functions, whilst screen time shows negative associations. However, it is unclear how school-based sitting time and transitions from sitting to standing relate to cognition. We investigated the relationship between class time sitting/stepping/sit-to-stand transitions and cognitive functions in Grade 1–2 children. Overall, 149 children (7.7 ± 0.6 years old, 54% boys) participated. Measures included class time sitting/stepping/sit-to-stand transitions and: (i) response inhibition (i.e., response time and accuracy); (ii) lapses of attention; (iii) working memory; and (iv) brain activity (cortical haemodynamic response). Linear mixed-models, adjusting for age, sex, and clustering at the classroom level, found that more sitting time was associated with higher lapses of attention (β = 0.12, p < 0.05). Children who stepped more had quicker inhibition response time (β = −0.95, p < 0.01); however, they were less accurate in their responses (β = −0.30, p < 0.05) and this was also observed with sit-to-stand transitions (β = −0.26, p < 0.05). No associations were found with brain activity. In conclusion, reducing and breaking up sitting may help keep children focused, but the evidence regarding response inhibition is unclear.

Child- and Parent-Related Correlates of Total and Prolonged Sedentary Time in 5- to 6-Year-Old Children

The primary aim was to examine child- and parent-related correlates of accelerometer-assessed overall total and prolonged (i.e., accumulated in bouts of ≥10 consecutive minutes) sedentary time (SED) in 5- to 6-year-old children. Second, child- and parent-related correlates of total and prolonged SED during weekend days and the after school period were examined, as associations with parent-related correlates may be stronger during these periods. SED and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) were assessed by ActiGraph accelerometers in children (n = 836) and one of their parents/carers. Parents completed a questionnaire examining potential parent-related correlates. Multilevel models examined associations between potential correlates and children’s total and prolonged SED. Children’s MVPA was the only correlate that was consistently negatively associated with both total and prolonged SED across the different time periods (overall, after school, and weekend days). Higher total SED in parents was associated with higher overall total SED and weekend total SED in children. Higher body mass index z-scores of children were associated with lower overall total and prolonged SED. Girls had lower prolonged SED after school than boys. Older children had lower total SED during the weekend. In conclusion, few potential correlates were associated with young children’s total or prolonged SED and most associations differed by time period.