Comparison of children’s physical activity profiles before and after COVID-19 lockdowns: A latent profile analysis

Abstract

Physical activity is important for children’s health, but moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) declines with age. COVID-19 lockdowns resulted in reduced MVPA and increased sedentary time among children. Characterising children’s activity patterns may help identify groups who are most likely to be inactive post-lockdown. Data were combined from a pre-COVID-19 cohort study on children aged 5–6 years (Year1: n = 1299), 8–9 years (Year4: n = 1223) and 10–11 years (Year6: n = 1296) and cross-sectional post-lockdown data from a natural experiment on 10-11-year-olds in 2021 (Year6-W1: n = 393) and 2022 (Year6-W2: n = 436). The proportions of time spent in MVPA, light physical activity (LPA) and sedentary time on weekdays and weekends were derived from accelerometer data. Latent class analysis was used to identify activity profiles pre and post-lockdown, and estimate pre-COVID-19 transitions between Year4 and Year6. We identified six pre-COVID-19 activity profiles in Year6, including a new profile characterised by very low MVPA and high sedentary time (19% of children). There was substantial movement between profiles at Year4 and Year6, with 45% moving to a profile with lower MVPA. Likelihood ratio tests suggested differences in Year6 activity profiles pre and post-lockdown, with a new post-lockdown profile emerging characterised by higher LPA. The percentage of children in the least active profiles (where under 20% meet UK physical activity guidelines), rose post-lockdown, from 34% pre-COVID-19 to 50% in 2021 and 40% in 2022. We also saw gender and socioeconomic gaps widen, and increased separation between high and low physical activity levels. Children’s physical activity has changed post-COVID-19, in terms of who is being active and how. The impact varies by activity profile, which is influenced by gender and socio-economic position. A greater understanding of these differences and targeting of low active groups is needed to increase both individual and population levels of physical activity.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical activity environment in English primary schools: a multi-perspective qualitative analysis

“…61 Other recent evidence, including Active-6, has also found that the impact of the pandemic on child physical activity, and the recovery, is uneven across demographic groups such as gender, age, ethnicity and SES. 25,62 These findings are mirrored in this study, which suggest that children who were active before the pandemic lockdowns returned to active clubs, and those who were less active are now even harder to engage, resulting in a greater polarisation of child ability and activity levels. The Active-6 study has found that although child physical activity has returned to near pre-pandemic levels, 30 children are more dependent on organised activities, such as active clubs, for this physical activity.…”

Physical activity interventions in European primary schools: a scoping review to create a framework for the design of tailored interventions in European countries

“…We have recently proposed a new context-specific approach for school-based physical activity intervention design that emphasizes the varying needs of schools and the subsequent importance of a tailored approach ( 17 ). Between-school variability, attributable to unmeasured school factors, has shown to account for nearly double the amount of variation as individual factors ( 11 , 12 ). Yet, among the studies included in this review, few report descriptive information that can help to understand context, such as geographical location, socioeconomic characteristics, ethnicity, and school size.…”

“…Schools can provide an environment in which physical activity can be equitably promoted ( 9 , 10 ). Research shows that 13% of variability in weekday MVPA in primary school children on average can be attributable to school-level factors, almost double that of individual factors ( 11 , 12 ). Therefore, schools can provide an important role in promoting physical activity, especially during the pre-adolescent years (aged 7–11) where physical activity has shown to decline with age ( 13 ).…”

Exploring parents’ physical activity motivation during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study from a self-determination theory perspective

“…This is in contrast to patterns seen in children, where organised active clubs have become the mainstay of activity for children following lockdowns, 47 particularly active clubs based at the child's school, but this has been socio-demographically patterned. 46,47,62,63 The qualitative discussions highlighted the importance of social connection during the pandemic for increasing enjoyment and effort in physical activity. Connecting with others was often one of the main reasons for engaging in online physical activity and going for walks with friends.…”