Abstract
Background: A better understanding of the effects of the lockdown on lifestyle behaviors may help to guide the public health response to COVID-19 at a national level and to update the global strategy to respond COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on device-measured physical activity (PA), sedentary time, sleep and self-regulation; and to determine whether PA and sleep are related to self-regulation problems during the lockdown. Methods: PA, sedentary time and sleep were assessed using accelerometry in the week in which the Spanish national state of alarm was declared (n = 21). Parents reported preschooler’s self-regulation difficulties (internalizing and externalizing) before (n = 268) and during the lockdown (n = 157) by a validated questionnaire. Results: Preschoolers showed a decrease in total PA (mean difference [MD] = −43.3 min per day, 95% CI −68.1 to −18.5), sleep efficiency (MD = −2.09%, 95% CI −4.12 to −0.05), an increase in sedentary time (MD = 50.2 min per day, 95% CI 17.1 to 83.3) internalizing (MD = 0.17, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.28) and externalizing (MD = 0.33, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.44) problems. Preschoolers who met the World Health Organization recommendations for PA had lower internalizing scores than non-active peers (MD = −1.28, 95% CI −2.53 to −0.03). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of meeting PA recommendations to reduce psychosocial difficulties during a lockdown situation.
Highlights
The coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory syndrome that first emerged in late 2019
Preschoolers showed a decrease in total physical activity (mean difference (MD) = −43.3 min per day, 95% confidence interval (CI) −68.1 to −18.5) and sleep efficiency (MD = −2.09%, 95% CI −4.14 to −0.04), and an increase in sedentary time (MD = 50.2 min per day, 95% CI 17.1 to 83.3) and internalizing
The current study explored the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep and its relationship with self-regulation difficulties in Spanish preschoolers
Summary
The coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory syndrome that first emerged in late 2019. In March 2020, the Government of Spain declared a national state of alarm to curb the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and established a mandatory home “lockdown” from 14 March to 26 April. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted life for all, with the closure of non-essential businesses and schools. This limited the opportunities for movement (i.e., children no longer had access to school-based physical activities such as physical education, recess, and walking to/from school) and social life, disrupting daily schedules and routines. Preschoolers who met the World Health Organization recommendations for PA had lower internalizing scores than non-active peers (MD = −1.28, 95% CI −2.53 to −0.03). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of meeting PA recommendations to reduce psychosocial difficulties during a lockdown situation
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