The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity Behaviour and Screen Time in Dutch Children During and After School Closures

Abstract

Background: Although children seem to be at a lower risk for severe COVID-19 infection, governmental regulations to prevent the spread of the virus possibly affect their lifestyle and related health. In the Netherlands, controlled lock-down measures included closure of schools, daycare and sports facilities. In this study screen time and self-reported and objectively measured physical activity (PA) was investigated among Dutch children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Data derived from two different cohorts were used. In cohort A (102 children, 10.5 ± 3.6 year, 42.4% boys) PA and screen time were evaluated with questionnaires regarding the pre-pandemic situation and regarding the situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. 131 children (10.2 ± 0.9 year, 43.5% boys) from cohort B filled out questionnaires on PA and screen time and wore an ActiGraph accelerometer, after reopening of schools and one year earlier.Findings: Seventy-five percent of children in cohort A reported less total PA during the controlled lock-down. Total screen time on weekdays significantly increased by 34± 105 min/day. Compared to May 2019, children in cohort B reported to spend less time on sports during the pandemic. Objectively measured sedentary time increased with 45 ± 67 min/day compared to May 2019. Children that spent a minimum of 60 min/day on moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA decreased from 64% to 20%. Screen time increased by 59 ± 112 min/day on week days and 62 ± 130 min/day on weekend days for children in cohort B.Interpretation: During the COVID-19 pandemic, PA levels decreased and screen time increased during and directly after the controlled lockdown. This is alarming as a healthy, active lifestyle in children is crucial in preventing chronic diseases.Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04411511 and NCT03440580), for cohort A and B respectively.Funding: Data from children from cohort B was collected from an ongoing study which received funding from Province Limburg (SAS-2015-04956).Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interest.Ethics Approval Statement: Both studies were reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (METC2020-1330-A-1 and METC172043/NL64324.068.17).