Physical Activity Types Among School-Aged Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic may have had long-lasting detrimental effects on children’s physical health. Previous studies have shown that children’s participation in physical activity (PA) declined during the pandemic. This study examined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on PA type selectio...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Mshari Alghadier Reem M. Basuodan Afnan Gmmash Reem A. Albesher |
| author_facet | Mshari Alghadier Reem M. Basuodan Afnan Gmmash Reem A. Albesher |
| author_sort | Mshari Alghadier |
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| description | Background: The COVID-19 pandemic may have had long-lasting detrimental effects on children’s physical health. Previous studies have shown that children’s participation in physical activity (PA) declined during the pandemic. This study examined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on PA type selection and the influence of gender, number of siblings, residence type, and caregiver education level on PA. Methods: Parents of Saudi children (ages 6–9 years) were recruited through convenience sampling and completed an online survey between July and August 2020. The parent-reported survey included demographics and PA types across three time periods (pre-, during, and post-lockdown). Chi-squared tests and logistic regression with pairwise comparisons were used to analyze the differences. Results: Parents reported that children (<i>n</i> = 361, mean age 7.7 ± 1.1 years) selected different PA types pre-COVID-19 pandemic more often than during the COVID-19 lockdown, such as swimming (16.9% vs. 12.8%), high-intensity jumping (9.8% vs. 6.6%), cycling (12.8% vs. 9.6%), football (14.3% vs. 6.1%), running (9.3% vs. 5.5%), virtual gaming exercise (5% vs. 3.2%), and playground activity (11.3% vs. 5.8%) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Additionally, PA type was shown to be influenced by gender and residence type, with girls being 55% more likely to be physically active during COVID-19 compared to boys, and participants living in houses without private yards being less physically active compared to those who lived in houses with private yards. Conclusions: Children’s gender (boy vs. girl) and residence type (with private yards vs. without private yards) affected their PA level during the COVID-19 lockdown. These findings suggest that more effort should be directed toward understanding the influence of gender and house types in the selection of PA types. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj-art-d845a487edc14562b879287b6250b9922025-01-24T13:38:45ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-01-011519110.3390/life15010091Physical Activity Types Among School-Aged Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional StudyMshari Alghadier0Reem M. Basuodan1Afnan Gmmash2Reem A. Albesher3Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj 11942, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi ArabiaBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic may have had long-lasting detrimental effects on children’s physical health. Previous studies have shown that children’s participation in physical activity (PA) declined during the pandemic. This study examined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on PA type selection and the influence of gender, number of siblings, residence type, and caregiver education level on PA. Methods: Parents of Saudi children (ages 6–9 years) were recruited through convenience sampling and completed an online survey between July and August 2020. The parent-reported survey included demographics and PA types across three time periods (pre-, during, and post-lockdown). Chi-squared tests and logistic regression with pairwise comparisons were used to analyze the differences. Results: Parents reported that children (<i>n</i> = 361, mean age 7.7 ± 1.1 years) selected different PA types pre-COVID-19 pandemic more often than during the COVID-19 lockdown, such as swimming (16.9% vs. 12.8%), high-intensity jumping (9.8% vs. 6.6%), cycling (12.8% vs. 9.6%), football (14.3% vs. 6.1%), running (9.3% vs. 5.5%), virtual gaming exercise (5% vs. 3.2%), and playground activity (11.3% vs. 5.8%) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Additionally, PA type was shown to be influenced by gender and residence type, with girls being 55% more likely to be physically active during COVID-19 compared to boys, and participants living in houses without private yards being less physically active compared to those who lived in houses with private yards. Conclusions: Children’s gender (boy vs. girl) and residence type (with private yards vs. without private yards) affected their PA level during the COVID-19 lockdown. These findings suggest that more effort should be directed toward understanding the influence of gender and house types in the selection of PA types.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/1/91physical activityschool agechildrenCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Mshari Alghadier Reem M. Basuodan Afnan Gmmash Reem A. Albesher Physical Activity Types Among School-Aged Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study Life physical activity school age children COVID-19 |
| title | Physical Activity Types Among School-Aged Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Physical Activity Types Among School-Aged Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Physical Activity Types Among School-Aged Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical Activity Types Among School-Aged Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Physical Activity Types Among School-Aged Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | physical activity types among school aged children during covid 19 pandemic in saudi arabia a cross sectional study |
| topic | physical activity school age children COVID-19 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/1/91 |
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