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A Systematic Review of the Relationships Between Physical Activity and Sleep in Early Childhood

Christine W St Laurent1, Katrina Rodheim1, Rebecca M C Spencer1,2

  • 1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.

Kinesiology Review (Champaign, Ill.)
|July 25, 2022
PubMed

Insights

This review found mixed evidence on physical activity and sleep in young children. Higher quality research is needed to support health recommendations for child development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Child Development
  • Sleep Science
  • Physical Activity Research

Background:

  • Understanding the relationship between physical activity and sleep is crucial for early childhood development.
  • Existing research on this association in children under six years old is often limited by study quality.
  • Establishing clear links can inform public health strategies and interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and assess the quality of evidence on the associations between physical activity and sleep in children under six years of age.
  • To identify gaps in current research and highlight the need for future high-quality studies.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of observational and experimental studies involving participants primarily under six years old.
  • Extraction of study characteristics and assessment of study quality using the Grading Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework.
  • Inclusion of 36 studies (reporting on sleep, physical activity, and fitness outcomes) from 29 articles across 18 countries.

Main Results:

  • The majority of studies examining sleep and physical activity outcomes reported mixed or null findings.
  • Evidence quality for these outcomes was predominantly rated as very low to low.
  • Studies on fitness outcomes were limited, resulting in insufficient evidence.

Conclusions:

  • The high prevalence of mixed and null results suggests potential limitations in existing research methodologies.
  • There is a critical need for higher-quality studies to better understand sleep and physical activity dynamics in young children.
  • Improved research quality is essential for developing effective health recommendations and interventions for healthier child development.

Keywords:
fitnessinfantmovementovernightpreschooltoddler

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