Health and Fitness

Physical activity and screen time of children and adolescents before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Germany: a natural experiment

S. C. E. Schmidt, B. Anedda, et al.

This groundbreaking study investigates the physical activity and recreational screen time among 1711 German children and adolescents during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Despite a notable decline in sports activity, an increase in habitual physical activities resulted in an overall boost in physical activity levels, challenging the conventional view that screen time and physical activity are inversely related. Conducted by Steffen C. E. Schmidt and colleagues, this research offers fresh insights into the context dependence of physical activity among youth.

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Abstract

This study compares the physical activity (PA) and recreational screen time (ST) of 1711 German children and adolescents (4–17 years) before and during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Results showed a decline in sports activity (SA) and an increase in recreational ST. However, a substantial increase in habitual physical activities (HA) led to an overall increase in PA. The effects varied in magnitude across age groups but not in direction, and were consistent for boys and girls. The study concludes that PA in children and adolescents is highly context-dependent and that PA and ST are not necessarily inversely related.

Publisher

Scientific Reports

Published On

Dec 11, 2020

Authors

Steffen C. E. Schmidt, Bastian Anedda, Alexander Burchartz, Ana Eichsteller, Simon Kolb, Carina Nigg, Claudia Niessner, Doris Oriwol, Annette Worth, Alexander Woll

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