Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42092837›Full record

ArticleBMC pediatrics2026

Health-related quality of life in school-aged boys and girls: longitudinal associations with physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the HAPPY study.

Katherine L Downing, Borja Del Pozo Cruz, Lauren Arundell, Trina Hinkley, Jo Salmon, Anna Timperio, Kylie D Hesketh

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Katherine L DowningInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia. k.downing@deakin.edu.au.
Borja Del Pozo CruzDepartment of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea, Madrid, Spain.
Lauren ArundellInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
Trina HinkleyIndependent research consultant, Melbourne, Australia.
Jo SalmonInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
Anna TimperioInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
Kylie D HeskethInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.

Funding

Australian Research Council DE220100847National Health and Medical Research Council APP1070571National Health and Medical Research Council GNT1176885National Heart Foundation of Australia 105929
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) is positively associated with physical activity (PA) and negatively associated with sedentary time (SED) assessed by self- and proxy-report in children. However, there is a dearth of longitudinal evidence using device-measured PA and SED in this population. This study aimed to examine longitudinal associations of device-measured PA and SED as well as parent-reported screen time with HRQoL in primary (elementary) school-aged boys and girls.

methodsData from waves 2 and 3 (child ages 6-8 and 9-11y, respectively) of the Healthy Active Preschool and Primary Years (HAPPY) Study were analysed. At wave 2, children wore ActiGraph GT1M accelerometers to assess time in SED and light-, moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA (LPA, MPA and VPA). Parents reported their child's usual screen time (television viewing, computer/internet use, computer/electronic games, handheld electronic games). At wave 3, parents reported their child's HRQoL using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Mixed-effects linear models were used to assess longitudinal associations of different intensities of PA, SED, and screen time with HRQoL scores. Analyses were stratified by sex of the child and adjusted for child age, BMI z-score and maternal education, with child and preschool/childcare centre of recruitment as random-effects.

resultsBoys had less SED and more MPA, VPA, TPA, electronic game use, handheld electronic game use and total screen time than girls (all p < 0.05); there were no sex differences in LPA, television viewing, computer/internet use, or HRQoL scores. For boys, VPA predicted better physical HRQoL (beta [β] = 0.18, 95%CI 0.02, 0.35). For girls, using electronic games predicted lower psychosocial HRQoL (β=-0.09, 95%CI -0.16, -0.01), while handheld electronic games and total screen time predicted lower physical HRQoL (β=-0.19, 95%CI -0.33, -0.06, and β=-0.04, 95%CI -0.07, -0.004, respectively) and total HRQoL (β=-0.12, 95%CI -0.23, -0.01, and β=-0.03, 95%CI -0.05, -0.001, respectively).

conclusionsHigher VPA predicted better physical HRQoL for boys; since boys were more active than girls, girls may not have engaged in sufficient VPA to benefit their HRQoL. Further research is needed to examine specific types of screen use, given the observed detrimental associations with HRQoL for girls.

Indexed as

ExerciseQuality of LifeSedentary BehaviorAccelerometryChildFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleScreen TimeTelevisionVideo GamesAccelerometerHealth-related quality of lifePhysical activityScreen timeSedentary time

Identifiers

PMID42092837
PMCPMC13317243

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.