Exploring the Association between COVID-19 Pandemic and Children’s Physical Activity and Sleep

Ellaham, Donna

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Overview

Year:: 2023
Contributor:: Ellaham, Donna (creator); McBurney, Shilo (Reader); Dunsiger, Shira (Advisor); Brown University. Department of Epidemiology (sponsor)
Genre:: theses
Subject:: childcare, physical activity, child health, self-efficacy, play, outdoor play, family childcare, preschool, toddlers, young children; Children--Sleep; COVID-19 (Disease)--Epidemiology; COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-); Multivariate analysis
Extent:: iv, 25 p.

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Description

Abstract:: COVID-19 disrupted children's daily routines, including sleep patterns, and may have encouraged sedentary behavior. COVID-19 lockdowns disrupted activities associated with school routines such as physical activity and fixed sleep schedules. This study explored the potential effects of the pandemic on physical activity (PA) and sleep quality (SQ) among children in the U.S. and the relationship between PA and SQ. This study used data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Children survey (n=5790 parents/guardians). Chi-squared tests and logistic regression models were used to compare PA frequency and SQ outcomes between children who completed the survey before the pandemic and during the pandemic s. Demographic characteristics (including sex, race/ethnicity, family income, and parent education level) and depression symptoms were significantly associated with PA (n=3988) and SQ (n=5122) (p <.0001 throughout). Children who completed the survey during the pandemic had 12.4% higher odds of reporting low PA levels and 4.4% higher odds of reporting low SQ compared to children who completed the survey before the pandemic after adjusting for covariates [(Odds Ratio {OR} =1.124, 95% Confidence Interval {CI}; 1.121,1.127) and (OR = 1.044, 95% CI;1.041, 1.047) for PA and SQ respectively]. There was a statistically significant association between PA and SQ (p <.0001). The COVID pandemic negatively affected PA frequency and SQ in children, which could lead to poor health outcomes such as obesity, chronic disease, poor quality of life, and compromised mental health. Interventions are needed to mitigate these negative outcomes and help children achieve sufficient activity and sleep. Future studies should further explore the association between PA frequency and SQ using validated measurement scales.
Notes:: Thesis (M. P. H.)--Brown University, 2023

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Citation

Ellaham, Donna, "Exploring the Association between COVID-19 Pandemic and Children’s Physical Activity and Sleep" (2023). Epidemiology Theses and Dissertations. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library. https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:cxsjqgwt/

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Epidemiology Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations for the Epidemiology department.
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