The correlates of after-school sedentary behavior among children aged 5–18 years: a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundChildren and adolescents spend a large proportion of the after-school period in sedentary behaviors (SB). Identifying context-specific correlates is important for informing strategies to reduce these behaviors. This paper systematically reviews the correlates of children’s and adolescents’ after-school SB.MethodsA computerized literature search was performed in October 2015 for peer-reviewed original research journal articles published in English before October 2015. Eligibility criteria included: 1) sample aged 5–18 years; 2) quantified the amount of SB or component of this that the children/adolescents were performing after school; 3) a measure of SB as the dependent outcome; and 4) the association between potential correlates and after-school SB.ResultsData were synthesized in October 2015. Thirty-one studies met the eligibility criteria: 22 studies among children (≤12 years), six among adolescents (>12 years), two had a combined sample of children and adolescents and one cohort followed children from childhood to adolescence. Findings were separated by after-school location i.e. after-school programs (n = 4 studies) and unidentified locations (n = 27). There was insufficient evidence to draw conclusions on all but two of the 58 potential correlates: sex and age. Among children at unidentified locations there was a null association between sex (male) and overall after-school SB, a null association between sex (male) and after-school TV viewing, a positive association between age and overall after-school SB and an inconsistent association between age and after-school TV viewing. No correlates of after-school sedentary behaviour while at after-school programs were identified.ConclusionsOnly two correlates have been investigated frequently enough to determine an overall association; neither correlate is modifiable. Due to the lack of consistent investigation of potential correlates, further evidence is required to accurately identify potential intervention targets.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42014009180Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2659-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prevalence and Selected Sociodemographic of Movement Behaviors in Schoolchildren from Low- and Middle-Income Families in Nanjing, China: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Survey

“…Higher parental educational level also appeared to predict less ST across previous studies [27], and this study confirms this finding; this may be explained by better parental role modelling encouraging schoolchildren to spend less time in front of a screen. Surprisingly, however, this study found that students with higher grades were more likely to meet ST guidelines, a result inconsistent with previous studies [24,35]. This interesting discovery may be interpreted as showing that students with higher grades take on more homework, which thus occupies more of their time, reducing the time available for screen-based activities.…”

Sedentary time among primary school children in south-west Germany: amounts and correlates

“…Moreover, confirming previous findings [ 4 , 27 , 29 , 31 , 48 ], in this sample higher ST was found among girls indicating that they prefer certain sedentary activities in comparison to boys; Reading books, doing crafts or painting as well as listening to music or using the internet are more popular spare time activities among German girls, while German boys more often prefer sports or playing outside [ 52 ]. Further, also the association of ST with MVPA in this study potentially explains a part of the gender difference in sedentary behaviour.…”

“…However, no correlation of parental education level with ST was found in this study with a slightly younger sample. Because income and education are often investigated jointly in socio-economic status [ 27 , 31 ], evidence on these two single factors seems insufficient and partly inconsistent [ 31 ], wherefore no conclusion can be drawn yet. Although this study did not confirm this, in the current literature there is a tendency towards a positive association of school related ST and a negative association of screen-based ST with higher parental education [ 53 ], while income might be weakly negatively correlated to ST.…”

“…In contrast, Biddle et al reported no such association although ST was assessed objectively as well [ 26 ]. Similarly, the evidence for an association between children’s PA and sedentary behaviour is summarized insufficiently [ 27 , 28 ]. Two longitudinal studies measured ST objectively and reported a relation of ST with moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) among 9 to12 year old children [ 29 ] and with light PA (LPA) in 12 to 16 year olds [ 30 ].…”

“…age, gender, migration background, ethnicity), and others are difficult to change (e.g. parental education level, household income) [ 27 , 31 ]. But there are also some health-related behaviours and factors such as overweight and PA which – even though a challenge - can be modified.…”