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Relationship between actigraphy-derived physical activity, sedentary behaviours and sleep parameters in preschool
Piotr Matłosz1, Justyna Wyszyńska2, Jacek Tutak3
1Institute of Physical Culture Sciences, Medical College, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland.
Insights
Reducing sedentary time in preschool children is more beneficial for sleep quality than increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Objective measures show sedentary behavior negatively impacts sleep efficiency and duration.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Science
- Behavioral Pediatrics
- Objective Physical Activity Measurement
Background:
- Sleep quality and quantity are crucial for preschooler development.
- Understanding the impact of physical activity and sedentary time on sleep is essential.
- Objective measurement methods provide reliable data on children's sleep and activity patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time with sleep quality and quantity in preschool children.
- To utilize objective methods, specifically accelerometry, for accurate assessment of activity and sleep.
- To differentiate the effects of MVPA and sedentary time on various sleep parameters.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of 676 preschool children (5-6 years old) attending kindergarten.
- Objective measurement of 24-hour activity and sleep using accelerometers for seven consecutive days.
- Statistical analysis to examine associations between accelerometer-derived MVPA, sedentary time, and sleep variables (e.g., sleep efficiency, fragmentation, duration).
Main Results:
- Longer moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was linked to higher sleep efficiency and lower sleep fragmentation in both boys and girls.
- Sedentary time showed strong negative associations with sleep efficiency and duration, and positive associations with wakefulness and sleep fragmentation.
- Sedentary time reduction demonstrated a greater potential to improve sleep-related parameters compared to increasing MVPA.
Conclusions:
- Sedentary time exerts the most significant negative impact on sleep parameters in preschool children.
- Reducing sedentary time is a key strategy for improving sleep quality in this age group.
- Objective data confirms the detrimental effects of sedentary behavior on objective sleep measures.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to examine associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time with sleep quality and quantity among preschool girls and boys using objective methods. Children (5-6 years old) attending kindergarten were recruited (n = 676). Measures included accelerometer-derived 24-hr activity and sleep for seven consecutive days. Longer time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with higher sleep efficiency both in boys (p < 0.0001) and girls (p = 0447), and with lower Sleep Fragmentation Index in boys (p = 0.0042) and girls (p = 0.0494). Moreover, among boys, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was inversely associated with wakefulness after sleep onset (p = 0.0006), number of awakenings (p = 0.0081) and Fragmentation Index (p = 0.0041), while in girls with sleep duration (p = 0.0405), Movement Index (p = 0.0128) and Sleep Fragmentation Index (p = 0.0494). Longer time spent sedentary was associated with lower sleep efficiency, and higher wakefulness after sleep onset, number of awakenings, Movement Index and Sleep Fragmentation Index-all with p < 0.0001. Furthermore, sedentary time was inversely associated with sleep duration both in boys (p < 0.0001) and girls (p = 0.0006), and directly associated with Fragmentation Index but only in boys (p = 0.0069). Meeting the recommended level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with better sleep efficiency, lower wakefulness after sleep onset and number of awakenings among boys. All sleep-related variables showed significant differences between quartile groups according to sedentary time (p < 0.05) in both the total group and the boys. The sedentary time had the strongest, negative effect on sleep-related parameters in preschool children, therefore sedentary time reduction may contribute more to improving sleep quality than increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
