Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Sleep and Self-Regulation in Spanish Preschoolers during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Alicia M. Alonso-Martínez, Robinson Ramírez-Vélez, Yesenia García-Alonso, Mikel Izquierdo and Antonio García-Hermoso
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Alicia M. Alonso-Martínez: Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarra, CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
Robinson Ramírez-Vélez: Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarra, CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
Yesenia García-Alonso: Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
Mikel Izquierdo: Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarra, CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
Antonio García-Hermoso: Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-8

Abstract: Background: A better understanding of the effects of the lockdown on lifestyle behaviors may help to guide the public health response to COVID-19 at a national level and to update the global strategy to respond COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on device-measured physical activity (PA), sedentary time, sleep and self-regulation; and to determine whether PA and sleep are related to self-regulation problems during the lockdown. Methods: PA, sedentary time and sleep were assessed using accelerometry in the week in which the Spanish national state of alarm was declared ( n = 21). Parents reported preschooler’s self-regulation difficulties (internalizing and externalizing) before ( n = 268) and during the lockdown ( n = 157) by a validated questionnaire. Results: Preschoolers showed a decrease in total PA (mean difference [MD] = −43.3 min per day, 95% CI −68.1 to −18.5), sleep efficiency (MD = −2.09%, 95% CI −4.12 to −0.05), an increase in sedentary time (MD = 50.2 min per day, 95% CI 17.1 to 83.3) internalizing (MD = 0.17, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.28) and externalizing (MD = 0.33, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.44) problems. Preschoolers who met the World Health Organization recommendations for PA had lower internalizing scores than non-active peers (MD = −1.28, 95% CI −2.53 to −0.03). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of meeting PA recommendations to reduce psychosocial difficulties during a lockdown situation.

Keywords: coronavirus; quarantine; healthy lifestyle; mental health (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 (8)

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