Association of Children’s Physical Activity and Screen Time With Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Source:

Tandon PS, Zhou C, Johnson AM, Gonzalez ES, Kroshus E. Association of Children’s Physical Activity and Screen Time With Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(10):e2127892. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.27892

Key Points

Question  What is the association of children’s physical activity and screen time with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Findings  In this cross-sectional national survey that included 1000 school-aged children in the US, children who engaged in more physical activity and less screen time had better mental health outcomes as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.

Meaning  These findings suggest that physical activity and screen time may be targets for promoting children’s mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.