Influence of Physical Activity, Nutrition, Educators and Parents on Children's Health Development

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The health development of children is significantly impacted by various factors, including physical activity, nutrition, educators and parents. Physical activity plays a crucial role in promoting healthy growth and development, as it helps in maintaining a healthy weight, building strong bones and muscles and improving cardiovascular health. Regular exercise also enhances cognitive function and reduces the risk of chronic diseases later in life. Educators play a crucial role in promoting healthy habits among children through nutrition education programs, teaching about the importance of making healthy food choices and providing access to nutritious meals in schools. Parents also have a significant influence on their children's health development. They serve as role models for healthy behaviors, such as engaging in regular physical activity, preparing nutritious meals and prioritizing health and wellness within the family. By creating a supportive environment at home and actively involving themselves in their children's physical and dietary habits, parents can help instill lifelong healthy habits that contribute to overall well-being.

In conclusion, physical activity, nutrition, educators and parents all play integral roles in shaping children's health development. By promoting healthy habits and providing support and guidance, these factors collectively contribute to ensuring that children grow up to be healthy and resilient individuals.

Dr. Laura Daniuseviciute-Brazaite
Dr. Lina Draudviliene
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Behavioral Sciences behavsci	2.5	3.1	2011	29.6 Days	CHF 2200	Submit
Children children	2.1	3.8	2014	15.6 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Education Sciences education	2.6	5.5	2011	29.2 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Social Sciences socsci	1.7	3.1	2012	34.5 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	7.7	2009	19.3 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education ejihpe	2.6	5.1	2011	29.7 Days	CHF 1600	Submit

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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All Behavioral Sciences Children Education Sciences Social Sciences Sustainability EJIHPE

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18 pages, 422 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Typology of Health-Related Behavior: Hierarchical Cluster Analysis Among University Students

by Joca Zurc and Matej Majerič

Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 918; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15070918 - 7 Jul 2025

Viewed by 303

Abstract

Physical and mental health show strong associations with health-related behavior. University students are one of the at-risk groups who are in a vulnerable transition phase from adolescence to adulthood, significantly affecting their health-related lifestyle. This study aims to identify different groups of university [...] Read more.

Physical and mental health show strong associations with health-related behavior. University students are one of the at-risk groups who are in a vulnerable transition phase from adolescence to adulthood, significantly affecting their health-related lifestyle. This study aims to identify different groups of university students with homogeneous health-related behavior, considering their dietary habits, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco consumption, mental well-being and lifestyle change motives. For data collection, an anonymous, closed-ended paper-and-pencil questionnaire was administered to a sample of 171 university students. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, a t-test for independent samples, a chi-square test, Spearman correlation and hierarchical cluster analyses (Ward’s method, Dendrogram). On average, students reported good health (M = 4.84), including daily physical activity (M = 31.35 min) and regular consumption of fruits (M = 4.02) and vegetables (M = 4.19). The hierarchical cluster analysis revealed two distinct patterns among the students: “Caring for a healthy lifestyle” (N = 69) and “Physically inactive with poor mental well-being” (N = 62). Better health-related behavior was found among male students enrolled in higher study years (p ≤ 0.01). These findings provide new insights into the different patterns of health-related behavior among university students that require targeted health promotion actions. Universities should develop and implement courses in healthy lifestyles and sustain them in the curricula. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Influence of Physical Activity, Nutrition, Educators and Parents on Children's Health Development)

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20 pages, 2597 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Nutriacción+: A Tool for Learning About Healthy Eating for Economically and Educationally Vulnerable Children

by Diana Arce-Cuesta, Evelyn Pesántez, Pablo Cevallos-Larrea, Cato Van Strijdonck and Michael Peralta

Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2025, 15(6), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15060115 - 19 Jun 2025

Viewed by 489

Abstract

Ecuador has a high prevalence of malnutrition. In this scenario, Ecuador promotes education on healthy eating through informative materials and talks. However, their content is usually extensive and does not consider the age, economic status, and educational level of the receivers. In addition, [...] Read more.

Ecuador has a high prevalence of malnutrition. In this scenario, Ecuador promotes education on healthy eating through informative materials and talks. However, their content is usually extensive and does not consider the age, economic status, and educational level of the receivers. In addition, children and adolescents often show little interest in learning about healthy eating. In this regard, the literature points to the use of educational games as an effective alternative to improve attention in learning; however, there are few tools addressed to populations in situations of economic and educational vulnerability. This article presents the development and evaluation of an educational game designed to promote learning about healthy eating for children and adolescents in situations of economic and educational vulnerability in Ecuador. The Design Thinking methodology was applied, with three iterative cycles of design, prototyping, and evaluation. Also, a comparative experiment involving 34 participants was conducted to evaluate the observed differences in knowledge acquisition between Nutriacción+ and informative talks. The results analyze how Nutriacción+ contributes to the learning of healthy eating and offer a replicable game design process for similar populations. The results suggest that Nutriacción+ can improve healthy eating knowledge in children aged 8 to 11 years. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Influence of Physical Activity, Nutrition, Educators and Parents on Children's Health Development)

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13 pages, 513 KiB  

Open AccessSystematic Review

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Its Association with Cognitive Function in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

by Guillermo García-Pérez-de-Sevilla and Rafael Zapata-Lamana

Children 2025, 12(6), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12060789 - 17 Jun 2025

Viewed by 616

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the associations between cognitive functions and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) in children and adolescents. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in three databases: Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria of the studies [...] Read more.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the associations between cognitive functions and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) in children and adolescents. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in three databases: Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria of the studies were (i) population: healthy children or adolescents; (ii) exposure: adherence to the MedDiet; (iii) outcomes: cognitive performance; and (iv) study design: observational studies only. The quality of the studies was assessed through the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Results: This systematic review included 12 cross-sectional, observational studies including a total of 6378 children aged 4–17 years from different countries, analyzing diet characteristics and cognitive functions. The quality of the studies was high (Newcastle–Ottawa Scale mean score = 7.42). Positive associations were found between adherence to the MedDiet and multiple cognitive functions: memory, attention, creativity, language skills, and executive functions. However, the wide variety of instruments assessing the adherence to the MedDiet and cognitive functions did not allow us to perform a meta-analysis. Conclusions: he MedDiet should be further considered and promoted among children and adolescents, as it shows promise as a dietary pattern that may support cognitive development in youth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Influence of Physical Activity, Nutrition, Educators and Parents on Children's Health Development)

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9 pages, 219 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Improved Sleep Quality and Sleep Duration After an 8-Week Exergaming Intervention for Exercise Training Among Elementary Schoolchildren in Taiwan

by Hsiao-Fang Kao, Chi-Fang Lin, I-Tung Lin, Yi-Chuan Hung, Ting-Wei Chang and Chien-Chang Ho

Children 2025, 12(2), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12020180 - 31 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1025

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week exergaming intervention for exercise training on sleep quality and sleep duration among elementary schoolchildren in Taiwan. Methods: A randomized controlled trial design was employed, with 68 elementary schoolchildren (aged 10.76 ± [...] Read more.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week exergaming intervention for exercise training on sleep quality and sleep duration among elementary schoolchildren in Taiwan. Methods: A randomized controlled trial design was employed, with 68 elementary schoolchildren (aged 10.76 ± 0.49 years) recruited and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 35) or a control group (n = 33). The experimental group participated in an 8-week exergaming intervention for exercise training; this comprised three sessions per week consisting of three rounds per session, with each round lasting 1 min. The control group did not receive any training and maintained their regular daily routines. All participants provided information on their demographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire at both pre-test (baseline) and post-test (week 8) assessments. Results: After 8 weeks of exergaming intervention, the experimental group showed a significant reduction in the PSQI global score (6.17 ± 2.96 vs. 4.80 ± 1.97, p < 0.0001). The change in the PSQI global score in the experimental group was significantly greater than in the control group (−1.37 ± 1.97 vs. −0.27 ± 1.89, p = 0.022). Additionally, the experimental group demonstrated a significantly longer sleep duration at week 8 compared with the control group (505.15 ± 53.16 vs. 480.51 ± 54.13, p = 0.047). Conclusions: Overall, the findings of this study indicate a beneficial response of elementary schoolchildren to exergaming, with participants reporting improved sleep quality and sleep duration as a result of engaging in the exergaming intervention sessions three times per week for 8 weeks, with three one-minute rounds per session. Therefore, it appears that exergaming may be an effective method for improving certain aspects of sleep quality and sleep duration among children between 10 and 12 years of age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Influence of Physical Activity, Nutrition, Educators and Parents on Children's Health Development)

11 pages, 1050 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Two Physiotherapy Methods to Improve the Physical Condition of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

by Lina Draudvilienė, Justas Draudvila, Simona Stankevičiūtė and Laura Daniusevičiūtė-Brazaitė

Children 2024, 11(7), 798; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070798 - 28 Jun 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5398

Abstract

This study presents two simple physiotherapy programs that were implemented for five weeks and showed positive changes in balance, coordination, and motor skills in kindergarteners with ASD. Physiotherapy programs in a gym and games on a smart board with balance plates and an [...] Read more.

This study presents two simple physiotherapy programs that were implemented for five weeks and showed positive changes in balance, coordination, and motor skills in kindergarteners with ASD. Physiotherapy programs in a gym and games on a smart board with balance plates and an unstable base were applied to improve the physical condition of children with ASD. Thirty children with ASD (4–6 years old) attending special needs kindergarten were enrolled in the study. Three tests were used to assess participants’ physical condition before and after the study: the modified Berg Balance Scale, the Imbalance Coordination Sample, and the Bruininks–Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test (BOTMP). The resulting mean change, calculated from each group’s scores, shows that the participants who received physical therapy sessions at the smart board had the greatest change of 1.58 points. It shows that the opportunity to play games on a smart board motivates children with ASD to work harder; therefore, it is a simple and easy way to engage children in different types of physical exercise. A slightly smaller change of 1.51 was obtained in the group that received gym sessions. However, working in the gym was more psychologically challenging for the children with ASD due to their lack of desire and motivation. Both methods are relatively simple and easy to apply at home; therefore, parents can make a significant contribution to improving children’s physical condition and that can be an effective tool to assist these individuals with activities in daily life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Influence of Physical Activity, Nutrition, Educators and Parents on Children's Health Development)
(This article belongs to the Section Pediatric Mental Health)

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