Correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children attending before and after school care: a systematic review

Abstract

Background Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) offers structured care to elementary/primary-aged children before and after school, and during school holidays. The promotion of physical activity in OSHC is important for childhood obesity prevention. The aim of this systematic review was to identify correlates of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour in before and after school care. Methods A systematic search was conducted in Scopus, ERIC, MEDLINE (EBSCO), PsycINFO and Web of Science databases up to December 2021. Study inclusion criteria were: written in English; from a peer-reviewed journal; data from a centre-based before and/or after school care service; children with a mean age < 13 years; an objective measure of physical activity or sedentary behaviour; reported correlations and significance levels; and if an intervention study design these correlates were reported at baseline. Study quality was assessed using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation Risk of Bias Rating Tool for Human and Animal Studies. The PRISMA guidelines informed the reporting, and data were synthesised according to shared correlations and a social ecological framework. Results Database searches identified 4559 papers, with 18 cross-sectional studies meeting the inclusion criteria.There were a total of 116 physical activity correlates and 64 sedentary behaviour correlates identified. The most frequently reported correlates of physical activity were child sex (males more active), staff engaging in physical activity, an absence of elimination games, and scheduling physical activity in daily programming (all more positively associated). The most frequently reported correlates of sedentary behaviour were child sex (females more sedentary) and age (older children more sedentary). Conclusions Encouraging physical activity engagement of female children, promoting positive staff behaviours, removing elimination elements from games, and scheduling more time for physical activity should be priorities for service providers. Additional research is needed in before school care services.

Obesity in children and adolescents: Overview of the diagnosis and management

“…47,48 The determinants of physical activity among youths were shown to be predicted by their attitude toward physical activity, parents' exercise habits, socioeconomic status, staff engagement, enabling school and neighborhood environment, and scheduling physical activity into daily programming. 49,50 On the other hand, poor physical fitness, long screen time, and busy schoolwork have been shown to adversely affect the overall activity level. 48,49 With all these barriers in mind, instead of merely providing general recommendations on physical activity to our adolescents, special exercise programs, best to be integrated into their busy daily routines, are needed to translate these recommendations into action.…”

“…The general recommendation of “physical activity of at least 60 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity” for adolescents is usually not practical or achievable in real life 47,48 . The determinants of physical activity among youths were shown to be predicted by their attitude toward physical activity, parents' exercise habits, socioeconomic status, staff engagement, enabling school and neighborhood environment, and scheduling physical activity into daily programming 49,50 . On the other hand, poor physical fitness, long screen time, and busy schoolwork have been shown to adversely affect the overall activity level 48,49 …”

Fatores associados aos comportamentos ativo e sedentário em adolescentes brasileiros: uma análise de redes

“…Da mesma forma, o CS parece estar associado a inúmeras variáveis, sendo elas de características sociodemográficas, do ambiente, da escola, dos baixos níveis de AF, do uso de aparelhos eletroeletrônicos, do nível econômico da família e da má alimentação 10,11 . Entretanto, é importante enfatizar que há correlatos que influenciam tanto no hábito de praticar AF quanto no CS, como, por exemplo, os correlatos sociodemográficos 12 e ambientais 13 .…”