Relationships between outdoor physical activity, health-related quality of life, and sleep in 8-to-12-year-old children: an exploratory study
Children today are at high risk of chronic disease partially because of a sedentary lifestyle. High levels of physical activity in children have been linked to increased physical and psychological wellbeing and high sleep quality. Further, time spent outdoors has also been linked to overall wellbein...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1516699/full |
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| author | Callista Zayatz Olivia Hopko Karlie Gambino Rocco Paluch Stephanie Anzman-Frasca Stephanie Anzman-Frasca Mackenzie J. Ferrante |
| author_facet | Callista Zayatz Olivia Hopko Karlie Gambino Rocco Paluch Stephanie Anzman-Frasca Stephanie Anzman-Frasca Mackenzie J. Ferrante |
| author_sort | Callista Zayatz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Children today are at high risk of chronic disease partially because of a sedentary lifestyle. High levels of physical activity in children have been linked to increased physical and psychological wellbeing and high sleep quality. Further, time spent outdoors has also been linked to overall wellbeing in children. Outdoor physical activities may have additional benefits for children, especially in winter when indoor sedentary time increases. The present online survey study examined relationships between parent reports of 8-to-12-year-old children's (n = 47) general physical activity, hiking frequency, health-related quality of life (a measure of children's physical, psychological, and social wellbeing; HRQoL), and sleep routines in winter 2023. Parent-reported frequency of children's hiking was predictive of their overall wellbeing, where those who hiked more frequently had higher HRQoL scores (ß = 1.20, p = 0.01, R2 = 0.24). More frequent hiking was also related to more consistent bedtime and waking routines (ß = 0.19, p = 0.02, R2 = 0.27; ß = 0.19, p = 0.009, R2 = 0.22). In contrast, overall weekly physical activity level was not predictive of HRQoL scores or sleep. The results support further investigation into hiking as a health promotion intervention for youth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5764e16a1eeb4e3b9ec2de0d6c051b08 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-5764e16a1eeb4e3b9ec2de0d6c051b082025-08-20T02:06:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-03-01710.3389/fspor.2025.15166991516699Relationships between outdoor physical activity, health-related quality of life, and sleep in 8-to-12-year-old children: an exploratory studyCallista Zayatz0Olivia Hopko1Karlie Gambino2Rocco Paluch3Stephanie Anzman-Frasca4Stephanie Anzman-Frasca5Mackenzie J. Ferrante6Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United StatesCenter for Ingestive Behavior Research, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United StatesDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United StatesChildren today are at high risk of chronic disease partially because of a sedentary lifestyle. High levels of physical activity in children have been linked to increased physical and psychological wellbeing and high sleep quality. Further, time spent outdoors has also been linked to overall wellbeing in children. Outdoor physical activities may have additional benefits for children, especially in winter when indoor sedentary time increases. The present online survey study examined relationships between parent reports of 8-to-12-year-old children's (n = 47) general physical activity, hiking frequency, health-related quality of life (a measure of children's physical, psychological, and social wellbeing; HRQoL), and sleep routines in winter 2023. Parent-reported frequency of children's hiking was predictive of their overall wellbeing, where those who hiked more frequently had higher HRQoL scores (ß = 1.20, p = 0.01, R2 = 0.24). More frequent hiking was also related to more consistent bedtime and waking routines (ß = 0.19, p = 0.02, R2 = 0.27; ß = 0.19, p = 0.009, R2 = 0.22). In contrast, overall weekly physical activity level was not predictive of HRQoL scores or sleep. The results support further investigation into hiking as a health promotion intervention for youth.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1516699/fullphysical activityoutdoor activitychildrensleephikinghealth-related quality of life |
| spellingShingle | Callista Zayatz Olivia Hopko Karlie Gambino Rocco Paluch Stephanie Anzman-Frasca Stephanie Anzman-Frasca Mackenzie J. Ferrante Relationships between outdoor physical activity, health-related quality of life, and sleep in 8-to-12-year-old children: an exploratory study Frontiers in Sports and Active Living physical activity outdoor activity children sleep hiking health-related quality of life |
| title | Relationships between outdoor physical activity, health-related quality of life, and sleep in 8-to-12-year-old children: an exploratory study |
| title_full | Relationships between outdoor physical activity, health-related quality of life, and sleep in 8-to-12-year-old children: an exploratory study |
| title_fullStr | Relationships between outdoor physical activity, health-related quality of life, and sleep in 8-to-12-year-old children: an exploratory study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationships between outdoor physical activity, health-related quality of life, and sleep in 8-to-12-year-old children: an exploratory study |
| title_short | Relationships between outdoor physical activity, health-related quality of life, and sleep in 8-to-12-year-old children: an exploratory study |
| title_sort | relationships between outdoor physical activity health related quality of life and sleep in 8 to 12 year old children an exploratory study |
| topic | physical activity outdoor activity children sleep hiking health-related quality of life |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1516699/full |
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