Health Behavior Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Analysis among Children

Traci A. Bekelman, Yanan Dong, Amy J. Elliott, Assiamira Ferrara, Kaylyn Friesen, Maren Galarce, Diane Gilbert-Diamond, Deborah H. Glueck, Monique M. Hedderson, Christine W. Hockett, Margaret R. Karagas, Emily A. Knapp, Maristella Lucchini, Julia C. McDonald, Katherine A. Sauder and Dana Dabelea
Additional contact information
Traci A. Bekelman: Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Yanan Dong: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Amy J. Elliott: Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
Assiamira Ferrara: Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
Kaylyn Friesen: Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Maren Galarce: Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
Diane Gilbert-Diamond: Department of Epidemiology, Medicine and Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
Deborah H. Glueck: Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Monique M. Hedderson: Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
Christine W. Hockett: Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
Margaret R. Karagas: Department of Epidemiology, Medicine and Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
Emily A. Knapp: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Maristella Lucchini: Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
Julia C. McDonald: Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
Katherine A. Sauder: Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Dana Dabelea: Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: This longitudinal study compared children’s health behaviors before the COVID-19 pandemic versus during the pandemic. This analysis examined the association between individual-level characteristics and health behavior change. Four prospective cohort studies in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program contributed data. Children aged 4–12 years and their caregivers were recruited in California, Colorado, North Dakota, and New Hampshire. Dietary intake, physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration were assessed with questionnaires pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. The final sample included 347 children: 47% female and 62% non-Hispanic White. Compared with pre-pandemic, weekday screen time duration was higher during the pandemic (3.0 vs. 4.5 h, p < 0.001). Unadjusted increases in screen time duration differed by race and ethnicity: 1.3 h/day for non-Hispanic White children, 2.3 h/day for Hispanic children, and 5.3 h/day for non-Hispanic Black children. Overall, no changes occurred in sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake ( p = 0.26), discretionary food intake ( p = 0.93), and physical activity ( p = 0.15). Sleep duration increased by 30 min among children who did not meet sleep recommendations pre-pandemic. Child sex and maternal education level were not associated with health behavior change. The pandemic may have exacerbated disparities in some health behaviors. Families may need support to re-establish healthy routines.

Keywords: longitudinal; COVID-19; disparities; diet; physical activity; screen time; sleep (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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