IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i23p12352-d686775.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Parents’ Report of Canadian Elementary School Children’s Physical Activity and Screen Time during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study

Author

Listed:
  • Emma Ostermeier

    (Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Child Health and Physical Activity Laboratory, School of Occupational Therapy, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

  • Patricia Tucker

    (Child Health and Physical Activity Laboratory, School of Occupational Therapy, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Children’s Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2V5, Canada)

  • Andrew Clark

    (Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Children’s Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2V5, Canada)

  • Jamie A. Seabrook

    (Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Children’s Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2V5, Canada
    School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College, London, ON N6G 1H2, Canada
    Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

  • Jason Gilliland

    (Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Children’s Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2V5, Canada
    Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Department of Paediatrics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

Abstract

COVID-19 public health protocols have altered children’s daily routines, limiting their physical activity opportunities. The purpose of this study was to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected children’s (ages 10–12 years) physical activity and screen time, and to explore the impact of gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and public health constraints (i.e., facility use and social interaction) on the changes in children’s health behaviors. Online surveys were disseminated to parents at two time points: before COVID-19 (May 2019 to February 2020) and during COVID-19 (November to December 2020). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to assess changes in physical activity and screen time, and for subgroup analyses. Parents ( n = 95) reported declines in children’s physical activity (Z = −2.53, p = 0.01, d = 0.18), and increases in weekday (Z = −4.61, p < 0.01, d = 0.33) and weekend screen time (Z = −3.79, p < 0.01, d = 0.27). Significant changes in physical activity and screen time behaviors were identified between gender, SES, and facility use groups. All social interaction groups underwent significant changes in screen time. Overall, COVID-19 protocols have negatively influenced children’s physical activity and screen time. Due to the negative consequences of inactivity and excessive screen time, resources must be made available to support families during the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Ostermeier & Patricia Tucker & Andrew Clark & Jamie A. Seabrook & Jason Gilliland, 2021. "Parents’ Report of Canadian Elementary School Children’s Physical Activity and Screen Time during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:23:p:12352-:d:686775
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/23/12352/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/23/12352/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anne Kelso & Anne K Reimers & Karim Abu-Omar & Kathrin Wunsch & Claudia Niessner & Hagen Wäsche & Yolanda Demetriou, 2021. "Locations of Physical Activity: Where Are Children, Adolescents, and Adults Physically Active? A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-35, January.
    2. Iris A. Lesser & Carl P. Nienhuis, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity Behavior and Well-Being of Canadians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-12, May.
    3. Mariana Brussoni & Rebecca Gibbons & Casey Gray & Takuro Ishikawa & Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter & Adam Bienenstock & Guylaine Chabot & Pamela Fuselli & Susan Herrington & Ian Janssen & William Picket, 2015. "What is the Relationship between Risky Outdoor Play and Health in Children? A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-32, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Stefanie Wessely & Nina Ferrari & David Friesen & Martin Grauduszus & Marlen Klaudius & Christine Joisten, 2022. "Changes in Motor Performance and BMI of Primary School Children over Time–Influence of the COVID-19 Confinement and Social Burden," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-17, April.
    2. Lorraine Cale, 2023. "Physical Education: At the Centre of Physical Activity Promotion in Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-12, June.
    3. Monika Szpunar & Kendall Saravanamuttoo & Leigh M. Vanderloo & Brianne A. Bruijns & Stephanie Truelove & Shauna M. Burke & Jason Gilliland & Jennifer D. Irwin & Patricia Tucker, 2022. "Children’s Physical Activity during COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada: Parents’ Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-16, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Remigiusz Dróżdż & Marcin Pasek & Magdalena Zając & Mirosława Szark-Eckardt, 2022. "Physical Culture and Sports as an Educational Basis of Students’ Healthy Physical Activities during and Post-Lockdown COVID-19 Restrictions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-11, September.
    2. Chen Liao & Liying Nong & Yu-Feng Wu & Yu-Tai Wu & Jian-Hong Ye, 2023. "The Relationships between University Students’ Physical Activity Needs, Involvement, Flow Experience and Sustainable Well-Being in the Post-Pandemic Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Yuta Suzuki & Noriaki Maeda & Daigo Hirado & Taizan Shirakawa & Yukio Urabe, 2020. "Physical Activity Changes and Its Risk Factors among Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults during the COVID-19 Epidemic: Associations with Subjective Well-Being and Health-Related Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-12, September.
    4. Theresa Maertl & Freia De Bock & Lena Huebl & Cornelia Oberhauser & Michaela Coenen & Caroline Jung-Sievers & on behalf of the COSMO Study Team, 2021. "Physical Activity during COVID-19 in German Adults: Analyses in the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring Study (COSMO)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Yu Zhang & Jiayu Li & Xiaoping Jiang, 2022. "Household Physical Activity for Adults in the Context of the Pandemic: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-17, November.
    6. Victoria Blom & Amanda Lönn & Björn Ekblom & Lena V. Kallings & Daniel Väisänen & Erik Hemmingsson & Gunnar Andersson & Peter Wallin & Andreas Stenling & Örjan Ekblom & Magnus Lindwall & Jane Salier E, 2021. "Lifestyle Habits and Mental Health in Light of the Two COVID-19 Pandemic Waves in Sweden, 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-19, March.
    7. Janet Loebach & Adina Cox, 2020. "Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO): A New Typology for Capturing Children’s Play Behaviors in Outdoor Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-34, August.
    8. Josefa Domingos & Carlos Família & Júlio Belo Fernandes & John Dean & Catarina Godinho, 2022. "Is Being Physically Active Enough or Do People with Parkinson’s Disease Need Structured Supervised Exercise? Lessons Learned from COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-12, February.
    9. Apichai Wattanapisit & Manas Kotepui & Sanhapan Wattanapisit & Noah Crampton, 2022. "Bibliometric Analysis of Literature on Physical Activity and COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-9, June.
    10. Mateusz Ciski & Krzysztof Rząsa, 2023. "Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression in the Investigation of Local COVID-19 Anomalies Based on Population Age Structure in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-23, May.
    11. Janet Loebach & Marcos Sanches & Julia Jaffe & Tara Elton-Marshall, 2021. "Paving the Way for Outdoor Play: Examining Socio-Environmental Barriers to Community-Based Outdoor Play," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-25, March.
    12. Masatoshi Tahara & Yuki Mashizume & Kayoko Takahashi, 2020. "Coping Mechanisms: Exploring Strategies Utilized by Japanese Healthcare Workers to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-12, December.
    13. Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & Beat Knechtle, 2022. "Sports and Health, Second Edition," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-1, July.
    14. Natsuko Imai & Akiko Shikano & Tetsuhiro Kidokoro & Shingo Noi, 2022. "Risky Play and Social Behaviors among Japanese Preschoolers: Direct Observation Method," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-11, June.
    15. Verónica Violant-Holz & M. Gloria Gallego-Jiménez & Carina S. González-González & Sarah Muñoz-Violant & Manuel José Rodríguez & Oriol Sansano-Nadal & Myriam Guerra-Balic, 2020. "Psychological Health and Physical Activity Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-19, December.
    16. Maria Elvén & Birgitta Kerstis & Jonas Stier & Charlotta Hellström & Petra von Heideken Wågert & Micael Dahlen & Daniel Lindberg, 2022. "Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Swedish Population Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, February.
    17. Agnieszka Szychowska & Anna Zimny-Zając & Elżbieta Dziankowska-Zaborszczyk & Tomasz Grodzicki & Wojciech Drygas & Tomasz Zdrojewski, 2022. "Physical Activity versus Selected Health Behaviors, Subjective Physical and Psychological Health and Multimorbidity in a Large Cohort of Polish Seniors during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Results of the Nat," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    18. Haleama Al Sabbah & Zainab Taha & Radwan Qasrawi & Enas A. Assaf & Leila Cheikh Ismail & Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri & Maha Hoteit & Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh & Reema Tayyem & Hiba Bawadi & Majid AlKhalaf & Khlood B, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-15, August.
    19. Junjie Liu & Shirley Wyver & Muhammad Chutiyami & Helen Little, 2023. "Outdoor Time, Space, and Restrictions Imposed on Children’s Play in Australian Early Childhood Education and Care Settings during the COVID Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Educators’ Perspecti," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(18), pages 1-11, September.
    20. Carl P. Nienhuis & Iris A. Lesser, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Women’s Physical Activity Behavior and Mental Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-12, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:23:p:12352-:d:686775. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.