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A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Pediatric Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 May 2024) | Viewed by 17727

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Prof. Dr. Alexandre Aparecido De Almeida

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Department of Education, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Tocantins, Campus Araguatins, Araguatins 77950-000, TO, Brazil
Interests: physical activity, physical exercise and sports practices by young people; biological maturation; child and adolescent mental health; cognition; learning; brain development; epilepsy
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Prof. Dr. Matias Noll

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1. Postgraduate Program in Education, Instituto Federal Goiano, Ceres 76300-000, Brazil
2. Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-631, Brazil
Interests: physical activity; physical exercise; ultra-processed food; child and adolescent mental health; back pain; posture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Being physically active and adopt healthy lifestyle habits can provide several physical, cognitive, and mental benefits. However, high percentage of children and adolescents do not reach the daily physical activity recommendations in addition to being involved in harmful life habits increasing the risks to development of health problems. In this Special Issue "Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents” of Children journal aims to illuminate the current knowledge in research relevant to impacts of physical activity practice and lifestyle habits in children and adolescents. We welcome original research articles, reviews and short papers covering issues related to impacts of physical activity and/or physical exercise practices and lifestyle habits in mental health, cognition, academic performance, body composition, physical growth and biological maturation of the young people. Other issues related to impact of physical active and lifestyle habits in children and adolescents not listed above may be appreciated and accepted for publication.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Alexandre Aparecido De Almeida
Dr. Matias Noll
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

physical activity and exercise
physical activity evaluation
physical fitness
quality of life
children and adolescents
lifestyle habits
sport practice
biological maturation
mental health
cognition

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Related Special Issue

Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents: 2nd Edition in Children

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

7 pages, 209 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Physical Activity and Lifestyle Behaviors in Children and Adolescents

by Alexandre Aparecido de Almeida and Matias Noll

Children 2024, 11(11), 1403; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11111403 - 20 Nov 2024

Viewed by 305

Abstract

A sedentary lifestyle, unfavorable body composition, and low muscle strength are strong predictors of morbidity and mortality and an independent determinant contributing to the development of many chronic diseases [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

18 pages, 317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lifestyle Habits Related to Internet Use in Adolescents: Relationships between Wellness, Happiness, and Mental Health

by Sigita Lesinskienė, Rokas Šambaras, Agnė Butvilaitė, Justina Andruškevič, Margarita Kubilevičiūtė, Urtė Stanelytė, Severija Skabeikaitė, Izabelė Jūraitytė, Ieva Ridzvanavičiūtė, Kamilė Pociūtė and Natalja Istomina

Children 2024, 11(6), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11060726 - 14 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1791

Abstract

Background: Studies in recent years have shown a significant increase in problematic internet use. Prolonged internet usage negatively impacts various aspects of adolescents’ lifestyles. Methods: The survey was conducted in three Lithuanian cities—Vilnius, Klaipėda, and Molėtai—between October and December of 2023. The survey involved students between the ages of 12 and 16. The participants completed a questionnaire that included questions about wellness and happiness, the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Our study aimed to investigate problematic internet use among Lithuanian adolescents and its relationships with wellness, happiness, and mental health. Results: This study included 1412 adolescents, with a mean age of 14.41 ± 1.20, with the sample composed of 52.3% boys. Boys indicated that they felt healthier and happier than girls (69.4% vs. 47.4%; 51.4% vs. 29.6%), p < 0.001. A total of 20.8% of students had IAT scores that reflect a normal level of internet usage. For IAT, the average score of girls was statistically significantly higher than that of boys (41.87 ± 12.24 vs. 39.96 ± 12.37), p < 0.001. The IAT score was higher in the group of students who felt less happy and healthy, had more frequent headaches or abdominal pain, and had problems with sleep, p < 0.001. A statistically significant, positive weak correlation was found between students’ IAT scores and SDQ internalizing and SDQ externalizing scores (r = 0.366; r = 0.385, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Prolonged internet use is arising as a serious problem among adolescents. Negative feelings, unhappiness, and poor emotion regulation have an association with internet addiction. Also, the female gender may be more associated with possible internet addiction. The results of this study can serve as initial steps toward developing preventive interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents)

13 pages, 399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acute Effects of Walking and Standing on Executive Function in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Feasibility Study

by Amanda Barudin-Carreiro, Sarah M. Camhi, Heidi I. Stanish and Julie A. Wright

Children 2024, 11(3), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11030341 - 13 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1493

Abstract

Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle with executive functioning (EF). While physical activity (PA) benefits EF, little is known about the impact of specific activities like standing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of performing a rigorous experimental study to compare the effects of walking and standing on EF in children with ADHD. Six areas of feasibility were assessed: recruitment, randomization, treatment adherence, retention, acceptability of the intervention, and implementation. A randomized pilot study using three parallel conditions compared the effects of two modes of activity on EF in children 6–11 with ADHD. While there were no significant differences between walking and standing for EF, analyses suggest that it is feasible to compare effects of standing vs. walking on EF among children with ADHD. This study supports the feasibility of undertaking a larger scale study to evaluate the effect of standing on EF in children with ADHD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents)

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16 pages, 868 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Nexus between Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity, Self-Disclosure, Social Anxiety, and Adolescent Social Avoidance: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study in Central China

by Shuyin Chen, Longjun Jing, Chuchu Li and Huilin Wang

Children 2024, 11(1), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11010056 - 30 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1620

Abstract

Objectives: Psychological issues among adolescents represent a prevalent challenge in today’s society. The purpose of this study is to explore the associations among moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, self-disclosure, social anxiety, and social avoidance in adolescents. Methods: This study collected cross-sectional data from 427 students in eight provincial key junior and senior high schools in the central China region of three provinces using snowball sampling and convenience sampling from July to August 2023. A structural equation model was employed to investigate the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and social avoidance among adolescents. Results: The findings indicate that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is negatively correlated with social anxiety (standardized coefficient = −0.219, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with self-disclosure (standardized coefficient = 0.454, p < 0.001). Social anxiety is negatively correlated with self-disclosure (standardized coefficient = −0.220, p < 0.001). Social avoidance is positively correlated with social anxiety (standardized coefficient = 0.461, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with self-disclosure (standardized coefficient = −0.331, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The chain-mediated dual-path model between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and social avoidance is facilitated by social anxiety and self-disclosure. In other words, adolescents who engage in more moderate to high-intensity physical activities exhibit lower levels of social anxiety, and those who have a stronger inclination for self-disclosure tend to demonstrate lower levels of social avoidance. In light of these findings, it is recommended that the government, society, schools, and families collaborate synergistically to promote the holistic well-being of adolescents and advance the development of a healthier China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents)

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13 pages, 1188 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship of the PROMIS^® Pediatric Physical Activity Measure with Cardiorespiratory Fitness

by Carole A. Tucker, Hannah S. Lawrence and Mary C. Hooke

Children 2024, 11(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11010022 - 24 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1374

Abstract

A The PROMIS^® Pediatric Physical Activity (PA) measure is a new instrument with established validity that measures a child self-report on short bouts of moderate to rigorous physical activity. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of the PROMIS^® Pediatric PA item bank with cardiorespiratory fitness and self-efficacy. The study was conducted at the Minnesota State Fair. Youth ages 8 to 18 years completed the PROMIS^® Pediatric PA and the Self-Efficacy for PA measures on an iPad. Participants performed 3-min step test with heart rates measured 1 min posttest. Participants (N = 182) were 53% female. The PROMIS^® Pediatric PA had a weak, significant negative correlation with the step test measurement (r = −0.23, p = 0.001) and a weak, significant positive correlation with self-efficacy (r = 0.27, p < 0.001). Measurements did not differ between groups by sex or age group (school-age and adolescent). Youth who were obese had significantly higher heart rates post step test (p = 0.004); BMI percentile groups did not differ in other measures. Self-report of PA and the physiologic measure of heart rate are from two related but different physical fitness domains which supports their significant but weak relationship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents)

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12 pages, 5503 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Time Reading and Recording Skills in First-Grade Children with Learning Difficulties Using the “Clock Motor Game”

by Aymen Hawani, Liwa Masmoudi, Omar Trabelsi, Mohamed Abdelkader Souissi, Anis ben Chikha, Maher Mrayah, Nizar Souissi, Santo Marsigliante, Mateusz Rozmiarek and Antonella Muscella

Children 2023, 10(11), 1748; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10111748 - 27 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1860

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the effect of the motor game, “Clock Motor Games”, on the improvement of “Reading and Recording of Time” (RRT) in children with Grade 1 mathematical learning difficulties (MLDs). A within-school cluster-randomized intervention study was conducted with 232 children (aged 6–7 years) with limited physical education experience (0.7 ± 0.3 years). The participants were divided into two groups: a control group, which received conventional teaching on time without any additional motor activities, and an experimental group, which incorporated the concept of time with the “Clock Motor Game”, for 3 weeks. The Clock-Reading Test was administered before the intervention (T₀), immediately after each session (T₁), and five weeks after the intervention (T₂) in both groups. The results demonstrated that the experimental group exhibited significantly greater improvements in RRT performance compared to the control group (U = 4416.5; p < 0.001; r = 0.3; medium effect). Additionally, the experimental group was more likely to show progress and less likely to experience regression or stagnation compared to the control group (25% vs. 38.4%). The findings suggest that practicing “Clock Motor Games” can positively contribute to the RRT ability in children with Grade 1 MLD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents)

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12 pages, 548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of Physical-Literacy-Based Online Education on Indices of Physical Fitness in High-School Adolescents: Intervention Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic Period

by Barbara Gilic, Mirela Sunda, Sime Versic, Toni Modric, Dragana Olujic and Damir Sekulic

Children 2023, 10(10), 1666; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10101666 - 8 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1497

Abstract

There is a global consensus that physical literacy (PL) is an important determinant of physical fitness (PF), but studies have rarely examined the effects of PL-based interventions on PF. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of specific online video-based PL intervention on PF indices in high-school students from Croatia. Participants were 423 high-school adolescents (295 girls, 128 boys; 14-to-18 years of age), divided into an intervention group (n = 230) and a control group (n = 193). The intervention lasted 12 weeks. Educational video materials were disseminated to the intervention group by the closed social network during the pandemic period. Variables included height, mass, BMI, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and power, strength, and flexibility indices. Pre- to post-testing design was applied, with two-way analysis of variance for repeated measurement (Time × Group). Applied intervention induced positive effects in CRF (the intervention group improved their capacities, while no changes occurred in the control group) and BMI (the intervention group retained their BMI levels at the pre-testing level, while BMI of the control group slightly increased over the course of the study), with better effectiveness in girls than in boys. No effects were evidenced for other variables. The positive effects of applied educational intervention on BMI and CRF are encouraging knowing that both indices are related to health status. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents)

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12 pages, 1011 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do You Want to Increase Physical Activity in Adolescents? A School-Based Physical Activity Program Could Be an Efficient Way

by Beatriz Polo-Recuero, Alfonso Ordóñez-Dios, Miguel Ángel Rojo-Tirado and Alberto Lorenzo

Children 2023, 10(10), 1641; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10101641 - 30 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1390

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a classroom-based physical activity program, using bike desks, on academic and physical performance in adolescents. The Program to Enhance and Develop Active Lessons (PEDAL) was designed for this purpose, expecting an increase in students’ physical activity without any decrease in academic performance. This intervention based on pedal or bike desks—stationary bikes that integrate with a desk workspace—was conducted with 55 high- school students who were randomly assigned to two groups: a PEDAL group (n = 28, 14.86 ± 0.65 years old, 46.4% girls) and a control group (n = 27, 15 ± 0.68 years old, 51.9% girls). Throughout the intervention, the PEDAL students pedaled 4 days a week for 10 weeks during their Spanish-language arts lessons. The comparisons between the PEDAL group and the control group, as well as the pre- and post-test results, were statistically analyzed to verify the students’ physical activity (i.e., IPAQ-SF, heart rate monitors, polar OH1⁺), cardiorespiratory capacity (20 m shuttle run test), and academic performance (d2 test of attention and language proficiency test). Regarding the physical aspect, only the PEDAL group showed significant growth in their physical activity levels as compared to the pre-test data (p = 0.001), and they achieved higher results compared with the control group (p = 0.022) and less sedentary time than control students (p = 0.012). Concerning cardiorespiratory fitness, there were no post-test differences between the two groups (p = 0.697), probably because the physical activity performed with the bike desks was light–moderate. As far as academic performance is concerned, no significant post-test effects were discovered in either group on the levels of language competence (p = 0.48), attention (TOT, p = 0.432), and concentration (CON, p = 0.216). In conclusion, adolescents who move while learning, using bike desks, increase their light and moderate physical activity without any detriment to academic performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents)

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11 pages, 739 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Growth and Body Surface Area on Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing: A Cohort Study in Preadolescent Female Swimmers

by Vasileios T. Stavrou, Eleni Karetsi and Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis

Children 2023, 10(10), 1608; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10101608 - 27 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1638

Abstract

Background: The performance of young swimmers is the result of a multifactorial process that is influenced by anthropometric characteristics and biological maturation. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of stages of biological maturation and body surface area on cardiopulmonary fitness indicators in preadolescent female swimmers, for whom menstruation has not started. Methods: Thirty female preadolescent swimmers (age 13.4 ± 1.0 years) participated in this study. We recorded anthropometric and morphological characteristics, stages of biological maturation, and pulmonary function parameters, and the swimmers underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Results: The cut-off was set for body surface area (BSA) at 1.6 m² and for biological maturation stages at score 3. The BSA results showed differences in variabilities in maximal effort oxygen pulse (p < 0.001), oxygen uptake (p < 0.001), ventilation (p = 0.041), tidal volume (p < 0.001), and oxygen breath (p < 0.001). Tanner stage score results showed differences in variabilities in maximal effort breath frequency (p < 0.001), tidal volume (p = 0.013), and oxygen breath (p = 0.045). Biological maturation stages and BSA were correlated during maximal effort with oxygen breath (p < 0.001; p < 0.001), oxygen uptake (p = 0.002; p < 0.001), and oxygen pulse (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). Conclusions: In conclusion, the findings of our study showed that the girls who had a smaller body surface area and biological maturation stage presented lower values in maximal oxygen uptake and greater respiratory work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents)

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13 pages, 986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Body Image and Lifestyle Behaviors in High School Adolescents

by Manon Bordeleau, Natalie Alméras, Shirin Panahi and Vicky Drapeau

Children 2023, 10(7), 1263; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071263 - 22 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1827

Abstract

This secondary data analysis study aimed to examine the associations between 1) body size perception (BSP) and body size dissatisfaction (BSD) and 2) lifestyle behaviors and BSP and BSD in adolescents. The study pooled cross-sectional data from two studies (n = 301) performed in adolescents. Weight and height were measured, while lifestyle behaviors and perceived actual and desired body size variables were self-reported. Linear regression analysis assessed the contribution of sex and zBMI to BSP and BSD scores. Pearson’s correlation explored associations between BSP and BSD. Cohen’s effect sizes compared satisfied and dissatisfied adolescents within the underestimators subgroup. A positive association between BSP and BSD scores was observed among girls living with normal-weight and overweight/obesity only (r = 0.26; p ≤ 0.001 and r = 0.38; p < 0.05, respectively). Underestimators who were satisfied with their body size showed a moderate effect size for a lower zBMI, a small effect size for lower screen time, and higher sleep duration compared to dissatisfied underestimators. Underestimation was associated with more body size satisfaction in adolescent girls with normal weight and overweight/obesity, suggesting a protective effect of underestimation. These findings support the hypothesis that body size satisfaction and underestimation in adolescents is associated with healthier lifestyle behaviors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents)

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10 pages, 735 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Adverse Events and 12-Week Group Step Aerobics on Sleep Quality in Chinese Adolescents

by Yuwei Hu, Xiyan Duan, Zhuoran Zhang, Chunxia Lu and Yang Zhang

Children 2023, 10(7), 1253; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071253 - 21 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1379

Abstract

Background: In China, sleep disorders have become a public health concern. This study aimed to model the relationship between adverse events and sleep quality, as well as the effect of group step aerobics on sleep quality. Methods: The modeling was built on surveying 2760 16–19-year-old adolescents. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate sleep quality, and the Adolescent Self-rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC) was used to evaluate adverse events. Adolescents with sleep disorders (PSQI ≥ 8) were randomized into the control (n = 26) and exercise (n = 26) groups. The exercise group participated in 12-week step aerobics, and the 300 min weekly volume is compliant with the WHO physical activity guidelines. Results: The double Poisson distribution was chosen to fit the data. ASLEC had a nonlinear relationship with the PSQI. Participants in the exercise group slept better (p < 0.05) from the eighth week until the end of the study. A random adolescent, therefore, has a 92.5% probability of experiencing improved sleep quality after 12 weeks of step aerobics. Conclusions: Intervention should be implemented before adverse events accumulate. An active lifestyle should be a preparedness strategy for increasing the resilience of adolescent mental health in the face of adversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents)

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