Abstract
BackgroundDetermining the most important demographic correlates of sedentary behavior and physical activity will help identify the groups of children that are most in need of intervention. Little is known in regards to the demographic correlates of sedentary behavior and physical activity in toddlers (aged 12–35 months), where long-term behavioral patterns may initially be formed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the associations between demographic correlates and specific types of sedentary behavior and physical activity in this age group.MethodsFindings are based on 149 toddlers (19.0 ± 1.9 months) and their parents (33.7 ± 4.7 years) recruited from immunization clinics in Edmonton, Canada as part of the Parents’ Role in Establishing healthy Physical activity and Sedentary behavior habits (PREPS) project. Toddlers’ and parental demographic characteristics and toddlers’ television viewing, video/computer games, and overall screen time were measured via the PREPS parental questionnaire. Toddlers’ objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity (light, moderate to vigorous, and total) were accelerometer-derived using Actigraph wGT3X-BT monitors. Simple and multiple linear regression models were conducted to examine associations.ResultsIn the multiple linear regression models, toddlers’ age, toddlers’ sex (female versus male), toddlers’ race/ethnicity (other versus European-Canadian/Caucasian), and household income ($50,001 to $100,000 versus > $100,000) were significantly positively associated, and main type of child care (child care center versus parental care) was significantly negatively associated with screen time. Similar findings were observed with television viewing, except null associations were observed for toddlers’ sex. Toddlers’ race/ethnicity (other versus European-Canadian/Caucasian) was significantly positively associated and main type of child care (child care center, day home, other versus parental care) was significantly negatively associated with video/computer games. Toddlers’ sex (female versus male) was significantly positively associated with sedentary time and significantly negatively associated with moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity.ConclusionsFemale toddlers, toddlers from ethnic minority groups, toddlers from families of lower income, and toddlers whose main type of child care is not center-based may be important targets for screen time interventions in toddlers. Apart from sex, demographic correlates may not be important targets for objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity in toddlers.
Highlights
Determining the most important demographic correlates of sedentary behavior and physical activity will help identify the groups of children that are most in need of intervention
In both Canada and Australia, ≤15% of preschool children aged 3 to 4 or 3 to 5 years met the primary recommendations in both physical activity (≥180 min/day of total physical activity (TPA)) and sedentary behavior (
Four toddlers were excluded because they had a disability that their parent thought could impact their ability to be physically active and two additional toddlers were excluded because they were older than 35 months, leaving a sample of 149 for the final analyses
Summary
Determining the most important demographic correlates of sedentary behavior and physical activity will help identify the groups of children that are most in need of intervention. Most of the research pertaining to guideline adherence in the early years has focused on preschool children [5] In both Canada and Australia, ≤15% of preschool children aged 3 to 4 or 3 to 5 years met the primary recommendations in both physical activity (≥180 min/day of total physical activity (TPA)) and sedentary behavior (
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