Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours of children living in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the EPaS-ISS study
Abstract Background Most governments worldwide introduced containment measures to protect people from the risk of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection which also affected children. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting confinement at home may have affected physical health and mental well-being especially am...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Archives of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01701-5 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849226611851788288 |
|---|---|
| author | Paola Nardone Serena Broccoli Angela Spinelli Marta Buoncristiano Silvia Andreozzi Mauro Bucciarelli Marco Giustini Silvia Ciardullo on behalf of the EPaS-ISS Group |
| author_facet | Paola Nardone Serena Broccoli Angela Spinelli Marta Buoncristiano Silvia Andreozzi Mauro Bucciarelli Marco Giustini Silvia Ciardullo on behalf of the EPaS-ISS Group |
| author_sort | Paola Nardone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Most governments worldwide introduced containment measures to protect people from the risk of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection which also affected children. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting confinement at home may have affected physical health and mental well-being especially among vulnerable young people, widening health disparities. Therefore, the aim of the EPaSS-ISS study was to study the changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours among 8–9 years old Italian students during the pandemic of COVID-19 compared with before the pandemic. Methods Data were collected using a web questionnaire. The target population was parents of children attending third-grade primary schools and living in Italy. A cluster sample design was used. Logistic regression models were used to explore changes between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods in children’s studying hours, active play and screen time. The possible effects of gender, geographical area of residence, parents’ nationality and educational level, family structure, family-perceived wealth, availability of home outdoor spaces and house size were investigated. A stratification by sociodemographic characteristics of children and parents was also included in the analysis. Results 4863 children were included: 47.9% were females, the average age was 8 years and 9 months (SD ± 5 months). The parents reported that 44.3% of their children increased the time spent studying at home, 52.7% the screen time for non-educational purposes on weekdays, and 47.3% at weekends; 44% of the children decreased their time spent playing actively outside school hours on weekdays and 39.3% at weekends. A larger increase of sedentary lifestyle was found among children with at least one parent with a medium (OR:2.57; 95%CI:1.78–3.72) or high educational level (OR:3.32, 95%CI:2.29–4.82), with low family-perceived wealth (OR:1.21; 95%CI:1.03–1.41), with both Italian parents (OR:1.44; 95%CI:1.10–1.90), resident in Centre (OR:1.25; 95%CI:1.04–1.50) or South (OR:1.26; 95%CI:1.05–1.51) Italy. No outdoor spaces (OR:2.14; 95%CI:1.82–2.51) and home size < = 90m2 (OR:1.41; 95%CI:1.05–1.68) had also a negative effect on children’s behaviours. Conclusions In Italy physical activity decreased and sedentary behaviours increased among 8–9 years old children during the COVID 19 pandemic. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e7ed2a33cf134c1d91d5bb201fdaf5b9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2049-3258 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e7ed2a33cf134c1d91d5bb201fdaf5b92025-08-24T11:09:29ZengBMCArchives of Public Health2049-32582025-08-0183111410.1186/s13690-025-01701-5Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours of children living in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the EPaS-ISS studyPaola Nardone0Serena Broccoli1Angela Spinelli2Marta Buoncristiano3Silvia Andreozzi4Mauro Bucciarelli5Marco Giustini6Silvia Ciardullo7on behalf of the EPaS-ISS GroupNational Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of HealthDepartment of Prevention and Public Health, General Directorate of Health and Welfare, Emilia-Romagna RegionFormer National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health“OKkio alla SALUTE” Technical CommitteeNational Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of HealthNational Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of HealthEnvironment and Health Department, Italian National Institute of HealthNational Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of HealthAbstract Background Most governments worldwide introduced containment measures to protect people from the risk of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection which also affected children. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting confinement at home may have affected physical health and mental well-being especially among vulnerable young people, widening health disparities. Therefore, the aim of the EPaSS-ISS study was to study the changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours among 8–9 years old Italian students during the pandemic of COVID-19 compared with before the pandemic. Methods Data were collected using a web questionnaire. The target population was parents of children attending third-grade primary schools and living in Italy. A cluster sample design was used. Logistic regression models were used to explore changes between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods in children’s studying hours, active play and screen time. The possible effects of gender, geographical area of residence, parents’ nationality and educational level, family structure, family-perceived wealth, availability of home outdoor spaces and house size were investigated. A stratification by sociodemographic characteristics of children and parents was also included in the analysis. Results 4863 children were included: 47.9% were females, the average age was 8 years and 9 months (SD ± 5 months). The parents reported that 44.3% of their children increased the time spent studying at home, 52.7% the screen time for non-educational purposes on weekdays, and 47.3% at weekends; 44% of the children decreased their time spent playing actively outside school hours on weekdays and 39.3% at weekends. A larger increase of sedentary lifestyle was found among children with at least one parent with a medium (OR:2.57; 95%CI:1.78–3.72) or high educational level (OR:3.32, 95%CI:2.29–4.82), with low family-perceived wealth (OR:1.21; 95%CI:1.03–1.41), with both Italian parents (OR:1.44; 95%CI:1.10–1.90), resident in Centre (OR:1.25; 95%CI:1.04–1.50) or South (OR:1.26; 95%CI:1.05–1.51) Italy. No outdoor spaces (OR:2.14; 95%CI:1.82–2.51) and home size < = 90m2 (OR:1.41; 95%CI:1.05–1.68) had also a negative effect on children’s behaviours. Conclusions In Italy physical activity decreased and sedentary behaviours increased among 8–9 years old children during the COVID 19 pandemic.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01701-5ChildrenCOVID-19 pandemicPhysical activitySedentary behavioursScreen-time activities |
| spellingShingle | Paola Nardone Serena Broccoli Angela Spinelli Marta Buoncristiano Silvia Andreozzi Mauro Bucciarelli Marco Giustini Silvia Ciardullo on behalf of the EPaS-ISS Group Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours of children living in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the EPaS-ISS study Archives of Public Health Children COVID-19 pandemic Physical activity Sedentary behaviours Screen-time activities |
| title | Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours of children living in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the EPaS-ISS study |
| title_full | Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours of children living in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the EPaS-ISS study |
| title_fullStr | Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours of children living in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the EPaS-ISS study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours of children living in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the EPaS-ISS study |
| title_short | Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours of children living in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the EPaS-ISS study |
| title_sort | changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours of children living in italy due to the covid 19 pandemic the epas iss study |
| topic | Children COVID-19 pandemic Physical activity Sedentary behaviours Screen-time activities |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01701-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT paolanardone changesinphysicalactivityandsedentarybehavioursofchildrenlivinginitalyduetothecovid19pandemictheepasissstudy AT serenabroccoli changesinphysicalactivityandsedentarybehavioursofchildrenlivinginitalyduetothecovid19pandemictheepasissstudy AT angelaspinelli changesinphysicalactivityandsedentarybehavioursofchildrenlivinginitalyduetothecovid19pandemictheepasissstudy AT martabuoncristiano changesinphysicalactivityandsedentarybehavioursofchildrenlivinginitalyduetothecovid19pandemictheepasissstudy AT silviaandreozzi changesinphysicalactivityandsedentarybehavioursofchildrenlivinginitalyduetothecovid19pandemictheepasissstudy AT maurobucciarelli changesinphysicalactivityandsedentarybehavioursofchildrenlivinginitalyduetothecovid19pandemictheepasissstudy AT marcogiustini changesinphysicalactivityandsedentarybehavioursofchildrenlivinginitalyduetothecovid19pandemictheepasissstudy AT silviaciardullo changesinphysicalactivityandsedentarybehavioursofchildrenlivinginitalyduetothecovid19pandemictheepasissstudy AT onbehalfoftheepasissgroup changesinphysicalactivityandsedentarybehavioursofchildrenlivinginitalyduetothecovid19pandemictheepasissstudy |