Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the lifestyle and quality of life in Brazilian children and adolescents during the COVID-19 social distancing period in 2020.
Methods
This cross-sectional study evaluated children and adolescents (2-18 years of age) and their parents, who voluntarily participated in an online survey. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants during the first 6 months of the pandemic. A questionnaire was used to characterize the study population. The PedsQL 4.0 and the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index were used to assess the quality of life (QoL) in children/adolescents and parents, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 statistical program through the ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni analysis, student's t test, and the generalized estimating equation.
Results
Mean screen time increased from 2h pre-pandemic to 5h during the pandemic (p <0.001), which was associated with a decline in PedSQL4.0 scores (from 75.7 ± 2.6 to 71.3 ± 13.7, p <0.001). Unhealthy eating habits increased from 11% to 34% and were associated with worse QoL scores compared with improved or unchanged eating habits during the pandemic (69.7 ± 13.3 vs 72.80 ± 13.4 vs 76.4 ± 12.6; p <0.001). Poor sleep quality increased from 9% to 31.7% and was associated with worse QoL scores compared to improved or unchanged sleep quality during the pandemic (67.3 ± 13.1 vs 74.5 ± 13.1 vs 76.8 ± 12.2; p <0.05). Physical exercise was associated with better PedSQL4.0 scores (77.5 ± 12.3 vs 72.5 ± 14.4; p <0.001). Children aged 2-4y old had the best QoLscores.
Conclusions
Pandemic-related social distancing promoted significant lifestyle changes in children and adolescents, increasing screen time, reducing physical activity, and worsening food and sleep quality, which resulted in worse QoL scores.
Keywords
Quality of life; Lifestyle; COVID-19; Children and adolescents