A1 Journal article (refereed)
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 (2023)
Koivukoski, Henriikka, Hasanen, Elina, Tolvanen, Asko, Chua, Terence, Chia Michael, Vehmas, Hanna, Sääkslahti, Arja. (2023). 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. Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviors, 2, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44167-022-00010-4
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Koivukoski, Henriikka; Hasanen, Elina; Tolvanen, Asko; Chua, Terence; Chia Michael; Vehmas, Hanna; Sääkslahti, Arja
Journal or series: Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviors
eISSN: 2731-4391
Publication year: 2023
Publication date: 03/01/2023
Volume: 2
Article number: 2
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s44167-022-00010-4
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/84729
Abstract
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.
Keywords: physical activity; physical training; immobility; screen time; sleep; children (age groups); recommendations; lifestyle; exercise habits; parents; socioeconomic status; pandemics; effects (results); COVID-19
Free keywords: lifestyle habits; 24-h activity guidelines; screen time; physical activity; sleep; socioeconomic status; household income; parent education; young children; COVID-19; WHO
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- International iPreschooler Surveillance Study Among Asians (IISSAA)
- Sääkslahti, Arja
- Ministry of Education and Culture
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2023
JUFO rating: 1