Understanding the Correlates and Health Outcomes of Movement Behaviors in Childhood and Adolescence
A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Pediatric Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 May 2026 | Viewed by 11
Special Issue Editor
Interests: physical activity and health; movement behaviors; physical fitness; children and adolescents
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Behavioral correlates and health outcomes in childhood and adolescence are tightly intertwined, shaping trajectories of growth, learning, mental well-being, and long-term disease risk. Clarifying how biological, psychological, social, environmental, and policy factors relate to measurable health outcomes is essential for reducing preventable morbidity and promoting equity. Within this broader landscape, 24-hour movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep) are central levers that influence these outcomes. Yet, globally, few young people meet integrated 24-hour recommendations, and the determinants of these behaviors, as well as their short- and long-term consequences, remain unevenly characterized across contexts.
This Special Issue focuses on understanding the correlates and health outcomes of movement behaviors in children and adolescents. We welcome studies that identify and explain multi-level correlates (biological and genetic factors; psychological attributes; family and peer influences; school and community environments; neighborhood, built, and natural settings; cultural, policy, and systems drivers) and that quantify health outcomes linked to 24-hour movement patterns (e.g., cardiometabolic, musculoskeletal, cognitive, mental and psychosocial health, growth and maturation, academic performance, quality of life). We particularly encourage submissions that integrate all three behaviors within a 24-hour framework, or submissions that analyze only one of these behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep).
Authors are invited to contribute to this issue by submitting original research, review articles and meta-analyses.
Dr. Diego Augusto Santos Silva
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- adolescent health
- anthropometry
- body composition
- cardiorespiratory fitness
- child health
- epidemiology
- exercise
- failure to thrive
- muscle strength
- obesity
- pediatric nutrition
- physical activity
- public health
- school
- screentime
- sedentary behavior
- sleep
- sleep disorders
- sports
- weight status
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
