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Children’s daily activities and well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown: associations with child and family characteristics

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Resumo:Learning, leisure, social, and movement activities are essential facets of children´s development affecting their physical, mental, and social well-being. During the first Covid-19 lockdown and post-lockdown period, children´s everyday lives were disrupted and altered in significant ways for an extended period, raising several concerns regarding its negative effects. This study investigated children´s daily activities during the lockdown and post-lockdown period, considering child and family factors that influenced their participation, and the effects of daily activities on child well-being. Cross-sectional data were collected during June and July 2020 from a sample of 3rd and 4th graders (n = 110) and their parents. Participants reported the intensity of children´s weekly participation in various learning, leisure, socializing, and movement activities, child and family characteristics, and child well-being outcomes. Findings indicate an overall pattern characterized by a higher prevalence of sedentary behaviors (screen time) and a lower prevalence of active leisure and playing activities, particularly among socioeconomically vulnerable children. Compared to boys, girls were less physically active but engaged more in play and social activities. In addition, sleep, active leisure, playing and learning activities, and family coping strategies were linked to better overall child well-being. These findings help identify promising avenues for effective intervention strategies, at the family and community levels, aimed at promoting child well-being and mitigating harm during the present and future crises.
Autores principais:Oliveira, Vitor Hugo
Outros Autores:Martins, Paula Cristina; Carvalho, Graça Simões de
Assunto:COVID-19 Child health Family adaptation Health promotion Time use Ciências Sociais::Ciências da Educação Educação de qualidade
Ano:2024
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:artigo
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Universidade do Minho
Idioma:inglês
Origem:RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Descrição
Resumo:Learning, leisure, social, and movement activities are essential facets of children´s development affecting their physical, mental, and social well-being. During the first Covid-19 lockdown and post-lockdown period, children´s everyday lives were disrupted and altered in significant ways for an extended period, raising several concerns regarding its negative effects. This study investigated children´s daily activities during the lockdown and post-lockdown period, considering child and family factors that influenced their participation, and the effects of daily activities on child well-being. Cross-sectional data were collected during June and July 2020 from a sample of 3rd and 4th graders (n = 110) and their parents. Participants reported the intensity of children´s weekly participation in various learning, leisure, socializing, and movement activities, child and family characteristics, and child well-being outcomes. Findings indicate an overall pattern characterized by a higher prevalence of sedentary behaviors (screen time) and a lower prevalence of active leisure and playing activities, particularly among socioeconomically vulnerable children. Compared to boys, girls were less physically active but engaged more in play and social activities. In addition, sleep, active leisure, playing and learning activities, and family coping strategies were linked to better overall child well-being. These findings help identify promising avenues for effective intervention strategies, at the family and community levels, aimed at promoting child well-being and mitigating harm during the present and future crises.