Rabat – Studies focusing on the physical activities and screen time of children and teenagers have found that children who met the criteria for healthy physical activities and healthy screen time were significantly lower during lockdowns.
A group of Swiss researchers compared pre-pandemic and pandemic physical activities and screen time for a population aged 5 to 18-year-old from the start of the pandemic in 2020 to January 2021. The researchers then used the data to understand how it correlates with well-being.
Published in the preprint medical journal medRxiv, the study focused on the change in lifestyle for children and adolescents throughout the two lockdowns in Switzerland. It concluded that exposure to screens rose drastically during both lockdowns while sleep disturbance also became more common.
During the first two waves of COVID-19, the amount of physical activities sharply reduced while exposure to screen time rose exponentially among 5 to 18-year-olds, the study found.
Focusing on these three parameters of sleep, screen time, and physical activities, the study aimed to identify their relationship to well-being in light of the pandemic.
Regarding sleep, data indicates that during the first wave of COVID-19, stretching from March to May 2020, children and adolescents meeting healthy criteria of physical activities and screen time went down drastically.
Over the second period of the study, stretching from October 2020 to January 2021, the study concluded a slight improvement in the two parameters, albeit remaining below pre-pandemic levels, especially for children between 10 to 18-year-olds.
Sleep was especially problematic for children aged 5-9 years, despite progress in healthy physical activities and screen time.
Noticing no significant difference between female and male participants, the longitudinal study notes that for both sexes the 15 to 18-year olds segment seemed to be the most affected of the population by lack of physical activities, long exposure to screens, and sleep disturbances.
Correlating the findings with well-being, the researchers found that children who got sufficient physical activities and monitored screen time were twice as likely to enjoy well-being and good health as opposed to those who were lagging behind on the three parameters.
Read Also: Moroccan Lifestyle: 5 Tips for a Healthier Mind and Body
The study also revealed that children who reported less exposure to screens, higher levels of physical activities were 60% more likely to say that they are satisfied with their lives.
Overall, the study shows a regression in well-being among children as a result of the pandemic and their proneness to physical activities; and despite moderate improvement as the COVID crisis becomes less severe, full recovery is not here yet.
