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Movement behaviors in short versus adequate nocturnal sleepers: A compositional analysis of preschoolers

Alesandra Araújo de Souza1, Cain C T Clark2, Jorge Mota3,4

  • 1Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Tocantins, Tocantinopolis, Brazil.

American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council
|November 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Preschoolers with short sleep accumulate more sedentary time and light physical activity (PA) during waking hours. Understanding this movement behavior composition is crucial for children's health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Movement Behavior Science
  • Sleep Science

Background:

  • Adequate daily movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep) are vital for child health.
  • The distribution of waking hours between physical activity and sedentary behavior in preschoolers with varying sleep durations is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine differences in movement behavior composition between adequate and short nocturnal sleepers in preschoolers.
  • To examine the association between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep in preschoolers.

Main Methods:

  • 270 preschoolers (mean age 3.97 years) participated.
  • Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured using accelerometry.
  • Sleep duration was assessed via parental interview, categorizing children into short or adequate sleepers.

Main Results:

  • Short sleepers had 64 minutes less sleep compared to adequate sleepers.
  • Short sleepers accumulated 32 minutes more sedentary time and 24 minutes more light physical activity.
  • These differences were statistically significant, with large effect sizes.

Conclusions:

  • Short sleep in preschoolers is linked to increased sedentary time and light physical activity during waking hours.
  • Further research is needed to explore the health implications of these movement behavior patterns in short-sleeping children.
Abstract

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