Associations between outdoor play, screentime and symptoms of anxiety and depression in a non-representative sample of Colombian children: Cross-sectional study
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Background
Children’s physical activity (PA) and screentime (ST) levels changed significantly during the pandemic, having negative effects on their mental health, including symptoms of anxiety and depression. No information regarding Colombian children’s PA and ST levels has been reported during the post-pandemic period, or their association with mental health.
Aim
Determining associations between outdoor play, screentime and symptoms of anxiety and depression in a non-representative sample of Colombian children.
Methods
Data regarding 110 8– to 10-year-old children was subjected to cross-sectional correlational analysis. BMI was determined using weight and height measurements. Mental health was assessed using self-report questionaries for determining Depression and Anxiety symptoms. PA and ST were measured using The Measurement of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Survey. Bivariate correlational analysis was used and a logistic regression model constructed; statistical significance was determined using <0.05 p -value.
Results
Overall, 35.4% of children were classified as being overweight or obese. Average indoor playtime was 40.20±38.30 min/day and outdoor 20.78±27.37 min/day. Children spent an average of 125.38±120.39 min/day on screentime. Around 33% of the children had mild and severe anxiety symptoms and 10% depression symptoms. Anxiety symptoms were negatively-correlated with outdoor playtime (Rho=-0.355, p -value=0.02) and positively-correlated with depression symptoms (Rho=0.491, p -value<0.001). The logistic regression model showed that BMI (OR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.61-0.93) and outdoor playtime (OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.95-0.99) were significant predictors of reducing the likelihood of moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms. Depression symptoms were a predictor of the increased likelihood of moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms (OR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.14-1.88).
Conclusion
Outdoor playtime and BMI were associated with target population children’s better mental health. Each additional minute of outdoor playtime per day decreased anxiety symptoms by 3% and each 1kg/m 2 of BMI by 24%. Depressive symptoms were linked to increased anxiety. PA recommendations based on playtime could promote physical and mental health benefits for children.
