The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity levels, and screen time of children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a pandemic. The measures taken due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the physical activity levels and screen time of children and adolescents. Our aim was to synthesize and analyze the available evidence regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical activity levels and screen time of children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: For this systematic review and meta-analysis study, studies that quantitatively evaluated the physical activity level and screen time of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic were determined as appropriate studies. Two researchers independently assessed the methodological quality of the studies using a standardized form. Random effects model was used for meta-analysis of study results. Q and I2 tests were used to test the heterogeneity of effect sizes. The study was registered to PROSPERO with the number CRD42021241981. Results: red the physical activity levels and screen time of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic with the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these 18 studies, a meta-analysis was performed for physical activity level with 15 studies and for screen time with 12 studies. According to the results of the analysis, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in the physical activity levels of children and adolescents (Hedges’s g = -0.117, 95% CI = -0.187 to 0.047, I2 = 91,024) and an increase in screen time (Hedges’s g = 0.472, 95% CI = 0.327 to). 0.617, I2 = 96,025). Conclusion: This systematic review and metaanalysis study examines the early evidence of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important because it analyzed 18 studies involving populations of many different countries in this process. Evidence shows that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts physical activity levels and screen time of children and adolescents. These results will contribute to scientists and policy makers to realize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop strategies to take necessary precautions.

Keywords

• child
• adolescent
• COVID-19
• physical activity
• screen time

COVID-19 pandemisinin çocukların ve adölesanların fiziksel aktivite düzeyi ve ekran süresi üzerindeki etkisi: bir sistematik derleme ve meta-analiz

Abstract

Amaç: Koronavirüs hastalığı 2019 (COVID-19) bir pandemiye neden oldu. COVID-19 pandemisi nedeniyle alınan önlemler çocukların ve adölesanların fiziksel aktivite düzeylerini ve ekran sürelerini etkiledi. Amacımız COVID-19 pandemisinin çocukların ve adölesanların fiziksel aktivite düzeyleri ve ekran süreleri üzerindeki etkisi ile ilgili mevcut kanıtları sentezlemek ve analiz etmektir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu sistematik derleme ve meta–analiz çalışması için COVID-19 pandemisi sürecinde yürütülen çocukların ve adölesanların fiziksel aktivite düzeyi ve ekran sürelerini sayısal olarak değerlendiren çalışmalar uygun çalışmalar olarak belirlenmiştir. İki araştırmacı standart bir form kullanarak çalışmaların metodolojik kalitesini bağımsız olarak değerlendirmiştir. Çalışma sonuçlarının meta-analizleri için rastgele etkiler modeli kullanılmıştır. Etki büyüklüklerinin heterojenliğini test etmek için Q ve I² testleri kullanılmıştır. Çalışma PROSPERO’ya CRD42021241981 numarası ile kaydedilmiştir. Bulgular: Tarama sonucunda 363 çalışmaya ulaşılmıştır. Bu çalışmalardan 18 tanesi çocukların ve adölesanların COVID-19 pandemisi sürecindeki fiziksel aktivite düzeylerini ve ekran sürelerini COVID-19 pandemisinden önceki dönem ile sayısal olarak karşılaştırdığı için meta–analize dahil edilmiştir. Bu 18 çalışma içerisinden 15 çalışma ile fiziksel aktivite düzeyi, 12 çalışma ile de ekran süresi için meta-analiz yapılmıştır. Analiz sonuçlarına göre COVID-19 pandemisi çocukların ve adölesanların fiziksel aktivite düzeylerinde azalmaya (Hedges’s g =-0,117, 95% CI = -0,187 to 0,047, I²= 91,024) ekran sürelerinde ise artışa (Hedges’s g = 0,472, 95% CI = 0,327 to 0,617, I² = 96,025) neden olmuştur.. Sonuç: Bu sistematik derleme ve meta–analiz çalışması COVID-19 pandemisinin erken kanıtlarını incelemektedir. Bu süreçte birçok farklı ülke popülasyonunu içeren 18 çalışmayı analiz etmesinden dolayı önemlidir. Kanıtlar, COVID-19 pandemisinin çocukların ve adölesanların fiziksel aktivite düzeylerini ve ekran sürelerini olumsuz etkilediğini göstermektedir. Bu sonuçlar bilim insanlarının ve politika yapıcılarının COVID-19 pandemisinin etkisini fark etmelerine ve gerekli önlemler almaya yönelik stratejiler geliştirmelerine katkı sağlayacaktır.

Keywords

• çocuk
• adölesan
• Covid-19
• fiziksel aktivite
• ekran süresi

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