Page 102 - IJPS-10-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Pandemic impacts preschoolers’ movement behaviors

the need to create strategies to allocate time for replacing Acknowledgments
sedentary activities with PA that can be conducted in the
home environment (WHO, 2019). Nonetheless, conditions None.
imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on Brazilian families Funding
can accentuate social differences, with predominant effects
on the low-income populations, whose opportunities None.
for nurturing healthy behaviors have been limited or Conflict of interest
even curtailed. The limitations inherent in the home
environment that are unfavorable for physical activities The authors declare they have no competing interest.
(Guan et al., 2020), and the low access to electronic devices
at home (Tandon et al., 2012), have a direct impact on Author contributions
preschooler’s PA (Buck et al., 2019). In addition, the Conceptualization: Anastácio Souza Filho, Thaynã Bezerra,
low educational level may be a great barrier for parents Clarice Martins
to implement strategies to keep their children active in Investigation: Anastácio Souza Filho, Thaynã Bezerra,
unattractive environments (Lindsay et al., 2017) and Alesandra Souza, Cleene Souza, Laís Barros
socially unstable settings (May et al., 2018). Methodology: Anastácio Souza Filho, Thaynã Bezerra,
The exact impact of the pandemic on human behaviors Rafael Tassitano, Clarice Martins
is hitherto unknown, though the premise that physical Formal analysis: Anastácio Souza Filho, Thaynã Bezerra
inactivity and sedentary behavior have become the new Writing – original draft: Anastácio Souza Filho, Thaynã
norms of our daily lives due to social isolation has started Bezerra, Alesandra Souza, Cleene Souza, Laís Barros
to gain traction (Hall et al., 2020). Thus, social and Writing – review & editing: Anastácio Souza Filho, Thaynã
educational measures to provide families with strategies for Bezerra, Rafael Tassitano, Clarice Martins
maintaining healthy behaviors are of utmost importance. Ethics approval and consent to participate
One of the prominent limitations of this study is the
adoption of subjective parent-reported assessment, which The Helsinki Declarations’ ethical aspects were followed,
might diminish the accuracy of data due to the associated and the methods and procedures were approved by the
memory bias. Nonetheless, the bias was controlled in this Research Ethics Committee of Health Science Center of
study by assessing the baseline measures 1 month before the the Federal University of Paraiba (protocol n. 4.102.806).
pandemic and evaluating measures related to the pandemic Consent for publication
period at the peak of social isolation in the city of João
Pessoa. On a separate note, the assessment of low-income All the children’s parents were informed about the study´s
preschoolers is a strength that should be highlighted, protocols and procedures and authorized the participation
considering that these families are the most affected and of their children in writing before the pandemic. During
deserve greater attention from public authorities. Another the pandemic, the parents approved the participation
limitation that we should acknowledge is the low parent through electronic form.
response rate. However, it is noteworthy that obtaining
data and questionnaire responses from socioeconomically Availability of data
vulnerable populations against the backdrop of a pandemic, Data are available from the corresponding author upon
which had further exacerbated the social inequalities reasonable request.
exposing them to more precarious health conditions, are
an uphill challenge. As such, this reflects a considerable References
strength of the current study. Aguilar-Farias, N., Toledo-Vargas, M., Miranda-Marquez, S.,
Cortinez-O’Ryan, A., Cristi-Montero, C., Rodriguez-
5. Conclusions Rodriguez, F., Del Pozo Cruz, B., et al. (2021).
The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on Sociodemographic predictors of changes in physical activity,
screen time exposure and PA of low-income Brazilian screen time, and sleep among toddlers and preschoolers in
Chile during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal
preschoolers. Considering the length of the current of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(1):176.
pandemic, developing strategies to promote preschoolers’
health behaviors, especially increasing PA and reducing https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18010176
screen time, should be the focus of attention, as behaviors Alonso-Martínez, A.M., Ramírez-Vélez, R., García-Alonso, Y.,
established at young ages tend to be tracked throughout life. Izquierdo, M., & García-Hermoso, A. (2021). Physical

Volume 10 Issue 3 (2024) 96 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.0975