Parent-Reported Changes in Ontario Children's Physical Activity Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Monika Szpunar; Matthew Bourke; Leigh M Vanderloo; Brianne A Bruijns; Stephanie Truelove; Shauna M Burke; Jason Gilliland; Jennifer D Irwin; Patricia Tucker

doi:10.3390/children10020221

Parent-Reported Changes in Ontario Children's Physical Activity Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Children (Basel). 2023 Jan 26;10(2):221. doi: 10.3390/children10020221.

Authors

Monika Szpunar¹, Matthew Bourke², Leigh M Vanderloo^{2

3}, Brianne A Bruijns², Stephanie Truelove⁴, Shauna M Burke^{5

6}, Jason Gilliland^{5

6

7

8

9}, Jennifer D Irwin⁵, Patricia Tucker^{2

6}

Affiliations

¹ Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada.
² School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada.
³ ParticipACTION, 77 Bloor Street West, Suite 1205, Toronto, ON M5S 1M2, Canada.
⁴ Member Interest Groups Section, Professional Development and Practice Support, College of Family Physicians of Canada, Mississauga, ON L4W 5A4, Canada.
⁵ School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada.
⁶ Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada.
⁷ Department of Geography and Environment, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada.
⁸ Department of Pediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada.
⁹ Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in closures of physical-activity-supporting environments, including playgrounds, outdoor recreation facilities (e.g., basketball courts), and community centers, which impacted children's movement opportunities. This study evaluated changes in Ontario children's physical activity levels during the COVID-19 pandemic and explored the impact of family sociodemographic markers on children's activity. Parents (n = 243; M_age = 38.8 years) of children aged 12 and under (n = 408; M_age = 6.7 years) living in Ontario, Canada, completed two online surveys between August and December 2020 (survey 1) and August and December 2021 (survey 2). Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate changes in the proportion of children who accumulated 60 min of physical activity per day pre-lockdown, during lockdown, and post-lockdown in Ontario. Results revealed a significant non-linear trajectory whereby the proportion of children achieving 60 min of physical activity per day pre-lockdown (63%) declined during lockdown (21%) and then increased post-lockdown (54%). Changes in the proportion of children engaging in 60 min of daily physical activity were moderated by several demographic variables. Efforts are needed to provide parents of young children with a wider variety of resources to ensure children are obtaining sufficient levels of physical activity regardless of the presence of community lockdowns.

Keywords: COVID-19; Ontario; children; pandemic; physical activity.

Grants and funding

49721/Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council