ArticleJournal of sport and health science2021
The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on physical activity in U.S. children.
Article in Journal of sport and health science, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 56 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
56 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 121 citations in OpenAlex.
- Strategies and Best Practices That Enhance the Physical Activity Levels of Undergraduate University Students: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Pooled it
- Comparative Effectiveness of Physical Activity Intervention Programs on Motor Skills in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on movement behaviours of children and adolescents: a systematic review.BMJ global health · 2022Pooled it
- Race/Ethnicity and Change in Physical Activity From Infancy to Preschool Age.Pediatric exercise science · 2026Article
- COVID-19-induced educational disruptions and children's executive functioning: A longitudinal cohort study.Developmental psychology · 2026Article
- Voices in Motion: Using I-Poems to Uncover Undergraduate University Students' Psychosocial Journey and Physical Activity Behaviours.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Longitudinal Outcomes of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth Physical Fitness.JAMA network open · 2025Article
- Changes to Secondary School Physical Activity Programs and Policy after Emerging from COVID-19 Lockdowns.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Article
- Relationship between Psychosocial Factors and Physical Activity among Undergraduate Students from a South African University.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Article
- Physical activity and sleep changes among children during the COVID-19 pandemic.NPJ digital medicine · 2024Article
- School-based physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of healthy eating and active living · 2024Article
- Article
- "Losing access to outdoor spaces was the biggest challenge for children to be healthy": pandemic restrictions and community supports for children's movement in Nova Scotia.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- How Societal Forces of Change Are Transforming Youth Physical Activity Promotion in North America.Journal of physical activity & health · 2023Article
- The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's occupations.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOT · 2023Review
- Impact of social isolation during COVID-19 on anthropometric data, quality of life, baseline physical activity and aortic pulse wave parameters in children and adolescents in two independent samples.Italian journal of pediatrics · 2023Article
- Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity among U.S. adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study.Preventive medicine reports · 2023Article
- Excessive weight gain among preschool children during the COVID-19 lockdown in China: a retrospective observational study.Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM · 2023Observational
- Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Children's Fundamental Motor Skills: A Study for the Taiwanese Preschoolers Teachers.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Changes in physical activity level of adolescents and its relationship with mental health during regular COVID-19 prevention and control.Brain and behavior · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDaily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is vital to the physical, mental, and social well-being of children. Early restrictions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic included the closure of schools and physical activity (PA) amenities across the US. This study aimed to examine the impact of the pandemic on the PA and play behavior of U.S. children and to provide evidence-based recommendations to improve their PA.
methodsA cross-sectional, online, parent-reported survey was conducted of children aged 3-18 years between April and June 2020 to assess light PA and MVPA using a modified Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. Additional items included family/child socioeconomic demographics, child adaptability to the pandemic, and community access. The survey was shared through social media and snowball sampling distribution.
resultsAnalysis of 1310 surveys indicated child PA scores declined significantly during the pandemic (from 56.6 to 44.6, max 119, p < 0.001). Specifically, MVPA score decreased (from 46.7 to 34.7, max 98, p < 0.001) while light PA remained the same. Age-based changes were seen in the quantity, variety, and intensity of PA, with the lowest pandemic-related impact seen in preschoolers and the highest in high schoolers (-4.7 vs. -17.2, p < 0.001). Community-based peer PA decreased across all age groups.
conclusionThis study shows decreased PA levels in U.S. children, according to parent reporting, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations for community leaders, educators, and parents to improve PA in children are provided. With continued spread of COVID-19, these results and recommendations may be imperative to the physical well-being of U.S. children.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.