The Preschool Activity, Technology, Health, Adiposity, Behaviour and Cognition (PATH-ABC) cohort study: rationale and design
Abstract Background Prevalence estimates internationally suggest that many preschool-aged children (3–5 years) are insufficiently physically active and engage in high levels of screen-based entertainment. Early childhood is the developmental period for which we know the least about the effects of ph...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2017-04-01
|
| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-017-0846-4 |
| _version_ | 1818513526209118208 |
|---|---|
| author | Dylan P. Cliff Jade McNeill Stewart Vella Steven J Howard Megan A. Kelly Douglas J. Angus Ian M. Wright Rute Santos Marijka Batterham Edward Melhuish Anthony D. Okely Marc de Rosnay |
| author_facet | Dylan P. Cliff Jade McNeill Stewart Vella Steven J Howard Megan A. Kelly Douglas J. Angus Ian M. Wright Rute Santos Marijka Batterham Edward Melhuish Anthony D. Okely Marc de Rosnay |
| author_sort | Dylan P. Cliff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Prevalence estimates internationally suggest that many preschool-aged children (3–5 years) are insufficiently physically active and engage in high levels of screen-based entertainment. Early childhood is the developmental period for which we know the least about the effects of physical activity on development and health. Likewise, rapid technological advancements in mobile electronic media have made screen-based forms of entertainment for young children ubiquitous, and research demonstrating the impacts on cognition, psychosocial well-being, and health has lagged behind the rate of adoption of these technologies. The purpose of the Preschool Activity, Technology, Health, Adiposity, Behaviour and Cognition (PATH-ABC) study is to investigate if physical activity and screen-based entertainment are independently associated with cognitive and psychosocial development, and health outcomes in young children, and if so, how much and which types of these behaviours might be most influential. Methods The PATH-ABC study is a prospective cohort, aiming to recruit 430 3–5 year-old children. Children are recruited through and complete initial assessments at their Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) centre, and then 12-months later at their centre or school. Direct assessments are made of children’s habitual physical activity using accelerometry, cognitive (executive function) and language development (expressive vocabulary), psychosocial development (emotional understanding, Theory of Mind, empathy, and heart rate variability), adiposity (body mass index and waist circumference), and cardiovascular health (blood pressure and retinal micro- vasculature). Educators report on children’s psychological strengths and difficulties and self-regulation. Parents report on children’s habitual use of electronic media and other child, parent and household characteristics. Discussion The PATH-ABC study aims to provide evidence to enhance understanding of how much and which types of physical activity and screen-based media influence development and health in preschool-aged children. This information would benefit parents, educators, health professionals and governments seeking to develop strategies and policies to give young children the best start in life by promoting healthy levels of physical activity and electronic media use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:02:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f01489774ee24c0898b7f78aa78e9e22 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:02:41Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-f01489774ee24c0898b7f78aa78e9e222022-12-22T01:28:25ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312017-04-011711910.1186/s12887-017-0846-4The Preschool Activity, Technology, Health, Adiposity, Behaviour and Cognition (PATH-ABC) cohort study: rationale and designDylan P. Cliff0Jade McNeill1Stewart Vella2Steven J Howard3Megan A. Kelly4Douglas J. Angus5Ian M. Wright6Rute Santos7Marijka Batterham8Edward Melhuish9Anthony D. Okely10Marc de Rosnay11Early Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of WollongongEarly Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of WollongongEarly Start Research Institute, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of WollongongEarly Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of WollongongIllawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of WollongongSchool of Psychology University of New South WalesIllawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of WollongongEarly Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of WollongongStatistical Consulting Centre, School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of WollongongEarly Start Research Institute, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of WollongongEarly Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of WollongongEarly Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of WollongongAbstract Background Prevalence estimates internationally suggest that many preschool-aged children (3–5 years) are insufficiently physically active and engage in high levels of screen-based entertainment. Early childhood is the developmental period for which we know the least about the effects of physical activity on development and health. Likewise, rapid technological advancements in mobile electronic media have made screen-based forms of entertainment for young children ubiquitous, and research demonstrating the impacts on cognition, psychosocial well-being, and health has lagged behind the rate of adoption of these technologies. The purpose of the Preschool Activity, Technology, Health, Adiposity, Behaviour and Cognition (PATH-ABC) study is to investigate if physical activity and screen-based entertainment are independently associated with cognitive and psychosocial development, and health outcomes in young children, and if so, how much and which types of these behaviours might be most influential. Methods The PATH-ABC study is a prospective cohort, aiming to recruit 430 3–5 year-old children. Children are recruited through and complete initial assessments at their Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) centre, and then 12-months later at their centre or school. Direct assessments are made of children’s habitual physical activity using accelerometry, cognitive (executive function) and language development (expressive vocabulary), psychosocial development (emotional understanding, Theory of Mind, empathy, and heart rate variability), adiposity (body mass index and waist circumference), and cardiovascular health (blood pressure and retinal micro- vasculature). Educators report on children’s psychological strengths and difficulties and self-regulation. Parents report on children’s habitual use of electronic media and other child, parent and household characteristics. Discussion The PATH-ABC study aims to provide evidence to enhance understanding of how much and which types of physical activity and screen-based media influence development and health in preschool-aged children. This information would benefit parents, educators, health professionals and governments seeking to develop strategies and policies to give young children the best start in life by promoting healthy levels of physical activity and electronic media use.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-017-0846-4Early childhoodPhysical activityActive playScreen timeElectronic mediaExecutive function |
| spellingShingle | Dylan P. Cliff Jade McNeill Stewart Vella Steven J Howard Megan A. Kelly Douglas J. Angus Ian M. Wright Rute Santos Marijka Batterham Edward Melhuish Anthony D. Okely Marc de Rosnay The Preschool Activity, Technology, Health, Adiposity, Behaviour and Cognition (PATH-ABC) cohort study: rationale and design BMC Pediatrics Early childhood Physical activity Active play Screen time Electronic media Executive function |
| title | The Preschool Activity, Technology, Health, Adiposity, Behaviour and Cognition (PATH-ABC) cohort study: rationale and design |
| title_full | The Preschool Activity, Technology, Health, Adiposity, Behaviour and Cognition (PATH-ABC) cohort study: rationale and design |
| title_fullStr | The Preschool Activity, Technology, Health, Adiposity, Behaviour and Cognition (PATH-ABC) cohort study: rationale and design |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Preschool Activity, Technology, Health, Adiposity, Behaviour and Cognition (PATH-ABC) cohort study: rationale and design |
| title_short | The Preschool Activity, Technology, Health, Adiposity, Behaviour and Cognition (PATH-ABC) cohort study: rationale and design |
| title_sort | preschool activity technology health adiposity behaviour and cognition path abc cohort study rationale and design |
| topic | Early childhood Physical activity Active play Screen time Electronic media Executive function |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-017-0846-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dylanpcliff thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT jademcneill thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT stewartvella thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT stevenjhoward thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT meganakelly thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT douglasjangus thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT ianmwright thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT rutesantos thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT marijkabatterham thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT edwardmelhuish thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT anthonydokely thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT marcderosnay thepreschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT dylanpcliff preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT jademcneill preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT stewartvella preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT stevenjhoward preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT meganakelly preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT douglasjangus preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT ianmwright preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT rutesantos preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT marijkabatterham preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT edwardmelhuish preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT anthonydokely preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign AT marcderosnay preschoolactivitytechnologyhealthadipositybehaviourandcognitionpathabccohortstudyrationaleanddesign |