Abstract
BackgroundIdentifying individual characteristics linked with physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (SED) can assist in designing health-enhancing interventions for children. We examined cross-sectional associations of temperament characteristics with 1) PA and SED and 2) meeting the PA recommendation in Finnish children.MethodsAltogether, 697 children (age: 4.7 ± 0.9 years, 51.6% boys) within the Increased Health and Wellbeing in Preschools (DAGIS) study were included. Parents responded to the Very Short Form of the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire consisting of three temperament dimensions: surgency, negative affectivity, and effortful control. PA and SED were assessed for 7 days (24 h per day) using a hip-worn ActiGraph accelerometer, and the daily minutes spent in light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and SED were calculated. The PA recommendation was defined as having PA at least 180 min/day, of which at least 60 min/day was in moderate-to-vigorous PA. Adjusted linear and logistic regression analyses were applied.ResultsSurgency was associated with LPA (B = 3.80, p = 0.004), MPA (B = 4.87, p < 0.001), VPA (B = 2.91, p < 0.001), SED (B = − 11.45, p < 0.001), and higher odds of meeting the PA recommendation (OR = 1.56, p < 0.001). Effortful control was associated with MPA (B = − 3.63, p < 0.001), VPA (B = − 2.50, p < 0.001), SED (B = 8.66, p < 0.001), and lower odds of meeting the PA recommendation (OR = 0.61, p = 0.004). Negative affectivity was not associated with PA, SED, or meeting the PA recommendation.ConclusionChildren’s temperament should be considered when promoting PA in preschoolers. Special attention should be paid to children scoring high in the temperament dimension effortful control.
Highlights
Identifying individual characteristics linked with physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (SED) can assist in designing health-enhancing interventions for children
A higher score in surgency was associated with lower Sedentary time (SED) (B = − 11.5, p < 0.001) and greater light Physical activity (PA) (LPA) (B = 3.8, p = 0.004), moderate PA (MPA) (B = 4.9, p < 0.001), and vigorous PA (VPA) (B = 2.9, p < 0.001) after adjusting for child’s age and sex, socioeconomic status (SES), research season, and awake wearing time of the accelerometer
A higher score in surgency was associated with higher odds of meeting the PA recommendation, while a higher score in effortful control was associated with lower odds of meeting the recommendation
Summary
Identifying individual characteristics linked with physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (SED) can assist in designing health-enhancing interventions for children. Physical activity (PA) has been found to contribute favorably to numerous health indicators in preschool-aged children (3–5 years) [1]. Sedentary time (SED), has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for noncommunicable diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO) [2]. As healthy PA habits are established in early life [6, 7], it is important to pay attention to childhood as a critical period with respect to developing the course of health behaviors. It is important to identify factors that potentially play a role in the effectiveness of health behavior interventions initiated at an early age [8]
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