MDPI - Publisher of Open Access Journals

14 pages, 350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring Temporal Differences in Rural Canadian Children’s Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity

by Brenton L. G. Button, Andrew F. Clark, Gina Martin, Megan Graat and Jason A. Gilliland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(23), 8734; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238734 - 24 Nov 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2396

The purpose of this study was to measure the factors that influence children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during school curriculum time, recess time, and outside school time in a rural area. During the Fall and Winter of 2016, 34 boys and 55 girls aged 8–14 years from rural communities in rural Northwestern Ontario participated in the Spatial Temporal Environment and Activity Monitoring project. The children’s MVPA was measured using an accelerometer, and child-level demographic, behavioral, and environmental data were gathered from surveys, passively logging global positioning units, and municipal datasets. Data on daily temperature and precipitation were gathered from the closest Environment Canada weather station. A mixed model was used to assess the relationship between child- and day-level factors and children’s MVPA. On average, children were getting 12.9 min of MVPA during recess, 17.7 min during curriculum time, and 29.0 min of MVPA outside school time. During all three time points, boys were more active than girls. During curriculum time, children in lower grades were more active, and the weather had differing impacts depending on the time of day. The findings of this study illustrate the differences in MVPA and the factors that influence MVPA by time of day. Examining different time segments provides valuable information for understanding children’s MVPA patterns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Environment and Children’s Health)

11 pages, 260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining Factors of Accelerometer-Measured Sedentary Time in a Sample of Rural Canadian Children

by Brenton L. G. Button, Gina Martin, Andrew F. Clark, Megan Graat and Jason A. Gilliland

Children 2020, 7(11), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/children7110232 - 17 Nov 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2505

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine potential child-level and day-level factors of accelerometer-measured sedentary time in a sample of rural Canadian children. Children (n = 86) from rural Northwestern Ontario participated in this study. Children’s sedentary times were identified and logged using an accelerometer. Child-level data (socio-demographic, household, and environment) came from surveys of children and their parents and a passively logging global positioning unit. Day-level data on day type (weekday/weekend) and weather (temperature, precipitation) were based on the dates of data collection and meteorological data came from the closest Environment Canada weather station. Cross-classified regression models were used to assess the relationship between child-level and day-level correlates of sedentary time. Boys were less sedentary than girls (b = −30.53 p = 0.01). For each one-year age increase, children’s sedentary time increased (b = 12.79 p < 0.01). This study indicates a difference in sedentary time based on a child’s age and gender. However, family, environmental, and weather characteristics did not influence sedentary time in this sample. Health practitioners who deliver care for northern rural youth can provide targeted health advice regarding sedentary time and consider gender and age to be risk factors for these behaviors. Full article

Search Results (2)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI

Saved Queries

Search Filter Reset All

Years

Feature Papers

Subjects

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

Search Results (2)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI