Physical Activity Levels and Sleep in Schoolchildren (6–17) with and without School Sport

Arkaitz Larrinaga-Undabarrena (), Xabier Río, Iker Sáez, Garazi Angulo-Garay, Aitor Martinez Aguirre-Betolaza, Neritzel Albisua, Gorka Martínez de Lahidalga Aguirre, José Ramón Sánchez Isla, Natalia García, Mikel Urbano, Myriam Guerra-Balic, Juan Ramón Fernández and Aitor Coca
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Arkaitz Larrinaga-Undabarrena: Department of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
Xabier Río: Department of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
Iker Sáez: Department of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
Garazi Angulo-Garay: Department of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
Aitor Martinez Aguirre-Betolaza: Department of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
Neritzel Albisua: Faculty of Humanities and Education Science, Mondragon University, 20500 Arrasate, Spain
Gorka Martínez de Lahidalga Aguirre: Athlon Cooperative Society, 20500 Arrasate, Spain
José Ramón Sánchez Isla: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
Natalia García: Department of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
Mikel Urbano: Department of Physical Activity and Health, Osasuna Mugimendua Kontrola S.L. Mugikon, 48450 Bilbao, Spain
Myriam Guerra-Balic: Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences—Blanquerna, University Ramon Llull, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Juan Ramón Fernández: Public College of Sports Teachings, Kirolene, Basque Government, 48200 Durango, Spain
Aitor Coca: Department of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Euneiz University, 01013 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: There is strong evidence to support the association between daily physical activity and sleep parameters in children and adolescents. Physical activity and outdoor play are favourably associated with most sleep outcomes in school children. The aim is to find out the levels of physical activity and the quality of sleep in Basque schoolchildren aged between six and seventeen and to analyse the possible differences between those who carry out some kind of physical sports activity and those who do not. The sample consisted of 1082 schoolchildren (50.1% male and 49.9% female). Differences between groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test (2 samples) and Kruskal–Wallis one-factor ANOVA (k samples). A total of 723 (66.94%) of the participants said they practiced some physical sports activity. The accelerometers obtained significant differences in all levels of physical activity, as well as in sleep efficiency, with higher levels of physical activity (sedentary p = 0.001; light p = 0.017; moderate p = 0.009; vigorous p = 0.001 and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity p = 0.002) and better sleep efficiency ( p = 0.002) in those schoolchildren who perform some type of physical sports activity. A significant difference in time spent in sedentary activities was also observed between primary and secondary school pupils of both sexes and regardless of the degree of physical sports activity completion.

Keywords: physical activity; sleep; schoolchildren; sedentary behaviour; school sport; accelerometer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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