- Record: found
- Abstract: found
- Article: not found
Correlates of Children’s Physical Activity During the Covid-19 Confinement in Portugal
Read this article at
Abstract
Objectives
To understand the role of household variables on the percentage of physical activity (%PA) during the COVID-19 confinement in Portugal.
Study Design
A Cross-sectional study design using an anonymous online survey was launched to assess how Portuguese families with children under 13 years of age adjusted their daily routines to the confinement.
Methods
Separate ANOVAs were performed to investigate how factors, such as the number of children, age, sex, the housing characteristics, and the adults’ job situation, can affect the percentage of time for physical activity (%PA).
Results
Findings, based on data from 2159 children, indicate that: I) Boys and girls did not differ in the %PA on any of the age groups; II) Children with an outdoor space and who had other children in the household were significantly more active (p<.001); III) Children from families with all adults working from home showed lower levels of %PA; IV) Being younger, having a big outdoor space, having other children in the household, and having at least one adult free from working from home, were significant positive predictors of children’s %PA, explaining 21% of the overall variance.
Highlights
-
•
This study analyzes the role of household variables on the %PA of children under 13 years old, in confinement due to the COVID-19 situation.
-
•
Although confined to their house, boys and girls still allocate some time to PA tasks.
-
•
For children of both sexes and of all ages, the %PA showed to be positively affected by the existence of a big outdoor space, and by the presence of other children in the house. A negative effect was found when all adults were working from home.
-
•
Parents must be aware of the need to prioritize PA time for their children, and governments can regulate about both parents working from home when there are children confined with them.