Twenty Four-Hour Movement Behaviours Research Among Australian Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background

Adherence to 24-h movement behaviour (24-h MB) guidelines, encompassing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), recreational screen time (ST) and sleep, is low among Australian children and adolescents, with poorly understood contributing factors. This review synthesised current evidence to identify areas requiring further exploration in this demographic.

Methods

A systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SportDiscus and CINAHL identified articles published from June 2016 and March 2024. Peer-reviewed articles in English focusing on healthy school-aged children and adolescents (5–17 years) addressing 24-h MB guidelines, including those using compositional data analysis (CoDA), were included.

Results

Twenty-three articles met the inclusion criteria. Most were of fair quality and used cross-sectional designs and self-reported measures. Adherence to 24-h MB guidelines ranged from 2% to 22% in Australia. The included articles focused on prevalence (n = 12), correlates (n = 5), health outcomes (n = 13), academic performance (n = 4), and an intervention (n = 1). Factors negatively associated with adherence included lower socioeconomic status, transitions from primary to secondary school, and family history of diabetes. Positive outcomes associated with adherence included improved academic performance, quality of life, and physical and mental health. Important research gaps were identified, particularly regarding intervention studies and limited exploration of a causal relationship between adherence, contributing factors, and related outcomes. Compositional analyses (n = 10) suggested that reallocating time from sedentary behaviour to MVPA may improve fitness and academic performance, whereas increasing sedentary time may lower sleep efficiency.

Conclusions

A comprehensive understanding of factors associated with adherence to 24-h MB guidelines among Australian children and adolescents is lacking. More longitudinal and interventional studies using objective measures are needed to establish causality and provide a deeper understanding of adherence to 24-h MB guidelines among children and adolescents in Australia.

So What

This scoping review underscores the need for more longitudinal and intervention-based research to explore causal relationships between adherence to 24-h MB guidelines and potential benefits for health, academic performance, and quality of life in Australian children and adolescents.