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

Emma Ostermeier, Patricia Tucker, Andrew Clark, Jamie A. Seabrook and Jason Gilliland
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Emma Ostermeier: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, 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
Andrew Clark: Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
Jamie A. Seabrook: Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environment, 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

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-14

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.

Keywords: physical activity; screen time; child; parent; coronavirus; public health; protocols; Canada (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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