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Outdoor time, physical activity and sedentary time among young children: The 2012–2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that children who spend more time outdoors are more active and spend less time sedentary, but these studies were limited by the use of small convenience samples. We examined the relationship between outdoor time and measures of physical activity (PA), screen time and sedentary time in a nationally-representative sample of young children.

METHODS: Parental reports of outdoor time were obtained for 594 children aged 3–6 years (47.8% girls) who participated in the 2012–2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Participants were asked to wear an Actical accelerometer for seven consecutive days. Outdoor time and screen time were assessed by parent reports. The relationships between outdoor time and measures of PA, screen time and sedentary time were examined with linear regression models. Adherence to PA guidelines was estimated based on a betabinomial distribution, and adherence with the screen time guidelines was assessed through logistic regression models. All analyses were stratified by age group (3–4 and 5–6 year olds) and adjusted for sex, parental education and household income.

RESULTS: Among 5–6 year olds, each additional hour spent outdoors was associated with an additional 10 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (95% CI: 6–14), 27,455 more accelerometer counts/day (95% CI: 11,929–42,980) and an increased likelihood of meeting the PA guidelines (OR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.68–3.82). No significant relationships were observed among 3–4 year olds.

CONCLUSION: Outdoor time has a large effect on PA among 5–6 year olds at a population level. Future studies should examine the correlates of outdoor time to inform novel PA promotion interventions.

Résumé

OBJECTIFS: Des études précédentes ont montré que les enfants qui passent plus de temps dehors sont plus actifs et consacrent moins de temps aux activités sédentaires, mais ces études sont limitées par l’utilisation d’échantillons de convenance. Nous avons examiné les relations entre le temps passé dehors et des mesures de l’activité physique (AP), du temps d’écran et du temps sédentaire auprès d’un échantillon pancanadien de jeunes enfants.

MÉTHODES: Les parents de 594 enfants de 3 à 6 ans (47,8 % filles) ayant participé à l’Enquête canadienne sur les mesures de la santé ont rapporté le temps passé dehors et le temps d’écran de leur enfant. Les participants ont été invités à porter un accéléromètre Actical durant sept jours consécutifs. Les relations entre le temps passé dehors et les mesures de l’AP, du temps d’écran et du temps sédentaire ont été examinées avec des modèles de régression linéaires. L’adhésion aux directives sur l’AP a été estimée à l’aide d’une loi bêta-binomiale et l’adhésion aux directives sur le temps d’écran a été évaluée avec des modèles de régression logistique. Les modèles ont été stratifiés selon le groupe d’âge (3–4 ans et 5–6 ans) et ajustés selon le sexe, le niveau d’éducation parentale et le revenu du ménage.

RÉSULTATS: Chez les 5–6 ans, chaque heure additionnelle passée dehors était associée à 10 minutes supplémentaires d’AP d’intensité moyenne à élevée (IC 95 %: 6–14), à 27 455 comptes de mouvements supplémentaires (IC 95 %: 11 929–42 980) et à une plus grande probabilité d’adhésion aux directives sur l’AP (RC = 2,53; IC 95 %: 1,68–3,82). Aucune relation significative n’a été observée chez les 3–4 ans.

CONCLUSION: Le temps passé dehors est fortement associé à l’AP chez les jeunes de 5–6 ans au niveau populationnel. Des travaux futurs devraient évaluer les corrélats du temps passé dehors afin de développer des interventions innovatrices pour promouvoir l’AP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth Road, Room R242, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada

    Richard Larouche PhD & Mark S. Tremblay PhD

  2. Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Didier Garriguet MSc

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Mark S. Tremblay PhD

Authors
  1. Richard Larouche PhD
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  2. Didier Garriguet MSc
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  3. Mark S. Tremblay PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard Larouche PhD.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: Richard Larouche holds a postdoctoral fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Sources of Funding: The 2012–2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey was funded by Statistics Canada, Health Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Larouche, R., Garriguet, D. & Tremblay, M.S. Outdoor time, physical activity and sedentary time among young children: The 2012–2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Can J Public Health 107, e500–e506 (2016). https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.107.5700

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.107.5700

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