Associations between outdoor play, screentime and symptoms of anxiety and depression in a non-representative sample of Colombian children: Cross-sectional study

Background Children’s physical activity (PA) and screentime (ST) levels changed significantly during the pandemic, having negative effects on their mental health, including symptoms of anxiety and depression. No information regarding Colombian children’s PA and ST levels has been reported during the post-pandemic period, or their association with mental health. Aim Determining associations between outdoor play, screentime and symptoms of anxiety and depression in a non-representative sample of Colombian children.

Data regarding 110 8– to 10-year-old children was subjected to cross-sectional correlational analysis. BMI was determined using weight and height measurements. Mental health was assessed using self-report questionaries for determining Depression and Anxiety symptoms. PA and ST were measured using The Measurement of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Survey. Bivariate correlational analysis was used and a logistic regression model constructed; statistical significance was determined using <0.05 p-value.

Overall, 35.4% of children were classified as being overweight or obese. Average indoor playtime was 40.20±38.30 min/day and outdoor 20.78±27.37 min/day. Children spent an average of 125.38±120.39 min/day on screentime. Around 33% of the children had mild and severe anxiety symptoms and 10% depression symptoms. Anxiety symptoms were negatively-correlated with outdoor playtime (Rho=-0.355, p-value=0.02) and positively-correlated with depression symptoms (Rho=0.491, p-value<0.001). The logistic regression model showed that BMI (OR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.61-0.93) and outdoor playtime (OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.95-0.99) were significant predictors of reducing the likelihood of moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms. Depression symptoms were a predictor of the increased likelihood of moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms (OR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.14-1.88).

Outdoor playtime and BMI were associated with target population children’s better mental health. Each additional minute of outdoor playtime per day decreased anxiety symptoms by 3% and each 1kg/m2 of BMI by 24%. Depressive symptoms were linked to increased anxiety. PA recommendations based on playtime could promote physical and mental health benefits for children. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Funding Statement Yes Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The Universidad del Rosario’s ethics committee approved the research (code DVO0051796-CV1465). Written informed consent was obtained from the parents, and informed assent from the children. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes Data Availability The information will only be available after acceptance