Dataset Information

Effects of varying pandemic restrictions on the health-related behaviours of Australian children.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To explore the effects of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions varying in severity and duration on health-related behaviours in children aged 5-17 years.

Methods

We used data from the Royal Children's Hospital National Child Health Poll, an online cross-sectional survey of Australian caregivers. The survey assessed 1222 caregivers' perceived changes in health-related behaviours (physical activity, sleep, screen-time, diet, outdoor activity, family and peer connectedness) of 2011 children aged 5-17 years in a typical week from June to September 2020 (when jurisdictions experienced varying restriction severity and duration) compared to retrospective reports of behaviour before March 2020 (pre-pandemic). To compare the effects of varying restriction severity in Victoria, New South Wales (NSW) and other states and territories on health-related behaviours binary logistic regression was used, adjusting for caregiver demographics and weighted to reflect Australia's parent population.

Results

Compared to pre-pandemic, Victoria's restrictions had a greater impact on child health-related behaviours compared to NSW restrictions and an even stronger impact compared to other states and territories which experienced few or no restrictions. A greater proportion of Victorian children reported more recreational screen time (71.3%) than NSW (53.9%) and other states and territories (34.5%) and less physical activity (57.2%) than NSW (30.3%) and other states and territories (26.5%). Victorian children reported less outdoor activity (62.6%) than NSW (32.0%) and other states and territories (25.2%), and less social connectedness (68.0%) than NSW (35.4%) and other states and territories (27.3%).

Conclusions

More severe and longer COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are associated with greater impacts and predominantly more negative impacts to children's health-related behaviours. These should be mitigated through policies and programs to encourage healthier life-styles.

SUBMITTER: Robinson L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9874831 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Effects of varying pandemic restrictions on the health-related behaviours of Australian children.

Robinson Lauren L Measey Mary-Anne MA Efron Daryl D Mundy Lisa L Hoq Monsurul M Rhodes Anthea A

Journal of paediatrics and child health 20221007 1

<h4>Aim</h4>To explore the effects of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions varying in severity and duration on health-related behaviours in children aged 5-17 years.<h4>Methods</h4>We used data from the Royal Children's Hospital National Child Health Poll, an online cross-sectional survey of Australian caregivers. The survey assessed 1222 caregivers' perceived changes in health-related behaviours (physical activity, sleep, screen-time, diet, outdoor activity, family and peer connectedness) of 2011 chi ...[more]

PMID: 36205052

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Dataset Information

Effects of varying pandemic restrictions on the health-related behaviours of Australian children.

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Effects of varying pandemic restrictions on the health-related behaviours of Australian children.

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