The Effect of an After-School Physical Activity Program on Children's Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nova Scotia.

Hilary A T Caldwell,Constance Tweedie,Ella Cockett,Laurene Rehman,Matthew B Miller,Jeffery B L Zahavich

doi:10.3390/ijerph19042401

Hilary A T Caldwell, Constance Tweedie + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042401

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Abstract

Children’s physical activity participation declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, and these negative changes could lead to longer-term impacts on children’s cognitive, social, and emotional health. Purpose: To determine parent/caregivers’ perceptions of their children’s cognitive function, peer and family relationships, life satisfaction, physical activity, sleep, positive affect, and global health, before and after participating in the Build Our Kids’ Success (BOKS) programming at after-school programs in Fall 2020. Methods: Parents of children participating in the BOKS programming at after-school programs in Nova Scotia, Canada, were recruited. At baseline, 159 parents completed the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures Information System (PROMIS) parent-proxy questionnaire, and 75 parents completed the measures at follow-up. Independent t-tests were used to determine if there were differences between baseline and follow-up Parent Proxy Questionnaire data. Results: All NIH PROMIS outcome variables at baseline and follow-up were within normal limits (Adjusted T-Scores: 46.67 ± 7.15 to 50.04 ± 7.13). There were no significant differences in life satisfaction (t(188) = −1.05, p = 0.30), family relationships (t(189) = 0.31, p = 0.76), cognitive function (t(199) = −1.16, p = 0.25), peer relationships (t(192) = −1.86, p = 0.06), positive affect (t(195) = 0.25, p = 0.81), global health (t(216) = −0.43, p = 0.67), physical activity (t(202) = 0.787, p = 0.732), sleep disturbance (t(193) = 1.72, p = 0.087), or psychological stress (t(196) = 1.896, p = 0.059), from baseline to follow-up. Conclusions: Parent-proxy questionnaires suggested that the BOKS programming had a protective effect on children’s health behaviours and cognitive, social, and emotional health as values remained within normal limits and were not impacted by the public health restrictions during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nova Scotia.

Highlights

The purpose of this study was to determine parents’ perceptions of cognitive function, peer and family relationships, life satisfaction, physical activity, affect, sleep, and global health among their children who were enrolled in an after-school childcare program that offered Build Our Kids’ Success (BOKS) programming in Nova Scotia, Canada, from October to December 2020
The results suggest that participation in the BOKS after-school program may have had a protective effect on children’s health behaviours and cognitive, social, and emotional health
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the routines of children and youth, and opportunities for physical activity, recreation, and sport were severely limited at times of strong public health measures

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic, and its associated public health restrictions, greatly impacted the wellbeing and mental health of children and youth as their daily lives were disrupted by school closures, limited social interactions, and the cancellation of in-person extra-curricular activities, sports, and recreation opportunities. Canadian youth reported that they missed being able to leave the house, go to school, and see their friends during the pandemic [1]. Families experienced hardships during the pandemic, including job loss, income loss, caregiving burdens, and illness, and a higher number of hardships were associated with lower parental and child wellbeing [2]. Parents in the United States reported worsening mental and behavioral health for themselves and their children [3].

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