24-hour movement behaviour composition associated with desired social-emotional functioning in the early years

Movement behaviours (sleep, sedentary behaviour, and physical activity) influence numerous health outcomes in children, including their social-emotional development. The optimal 24-hour movement behaviour composition for positive social-emotional development is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the movement behaviour composition across the 24-hour day associated with desired social-emotional functioning in the early years.

This cross-sectional analysis included 560 children aged 1.2-2.9 years and 1,500 children aged 3.0-4.9 years from the Sleep and Activity Database (SADEY) for the Early Years study. Sedentary behaviour (SED), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were measured using ActiGraph accelerometers. Sleep duration was assessed using parent reports. Children social-emotional functioning was measured using the five domains of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), a widely used screening instrument of children's behaviours, emotions, and relationships across five domains (emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and prosocial behaviour). Compositional data analyses were used to estimate the 24-hour movement behaviour compositions associated with optimal scores for each of the SDQ domain z-scores and all five domains combined (the Goldilocks day).

The movement behaviour composition was significantly associated with all five SDQ domains (all p < .01). For 1-2-year-olds, the Goldilocks day consisted of 12 h 12 min of sleep, 4 h 36 min of SED, 5 h 48 min of LPA, and 1h 24 min of MVPA. For 3-4-year-olds, it consisted of 12 h 08 min of sleep, 4 h 27 min of SED, 5 h 49 min of LPA, and 1 h 36 min of MVPA.

The duration of total physical activity and MVPA associated with more favourable social-emotional functioning exceeded the minimum levels specified in the current 24-hour Movement Guidelines. These findings should not be interpreted as behavioural recommendations but rather as movement behaviour patterns associated with more favourable outcomes within this study population.