Correlates of Children’s Physical Activity During the Covid-19 Confinement in Portugal

Pombo, André; Luz, Carlos; Rodrigues, Luis Paulo; Ferreira, Carlos; Cordovil, Rita

Objectives To understand the role of household variables on the percentage of physical activity (%PA) during the COVID-19 confinement in Portugal. Study Design A Cross-sectional study design using an anonymous online survey was launched to assess how Portuguese families with children under 13 years of age adjusted their daily routines to the confinement. Methods Separate ANOVAs were performed to investigate how factors, such as the number of children, age, sex, the housing characteristics, and the adults’ job situation, can affect the percentage of time for physical activity (%PA). Results Findings, based on data from 2159 children, indicate that: I) Boys and girls did not differ in the %PA on any of the age groups; II) Children with an outdoor space and who had other children in the household were significantly more active (p<.001); III) Children from families with all adults working from home showed lower levels of %PA; IV) Being younger, having a big outdoor space, having other children in the household, and having at least one adult free from working from home, were significant positive predictors of children’s %PA, explaining 21% of the overall variance. Conclusion Time allocated for PA during this period is reduced compared to what is usually reported on normal days. It is necessary to find strategies to increase children's PA, especially in families where both parents are working and have no outdoor space.