Author(s): CARVALHINHO SILVA, A., ESTIMA, F., BESSA, R., AIRES, L., SILVA, G., Institution: UNIVERSIDADE DA MAIA, Country: PORTUGAL, Abstract-ID: 2103

INTRODUCTION:
This study aims to analyse variations in movement behaviours specific to different age groups. Understanding these movement behaviours dynamics may be essential to prevent early disease development and uphold overall well-being and health in children and adolescents.
METHODS:
Data from 1232 participants aged between 10 and 18 years were collected. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to measure physical activity (PA) expressed by min/day, and a questionnaire to estimate sedentary behaviours (SB) expressed by h/day to assessed time spent on personal computers for study (PCS) and leisure (PCL), tablets, smartphones (SPH), social networks (SN), watching television (TV), total screen time (TST), and sitting (ST). Pearson’s correlation analyses were conducted to determine how variables were related and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA, adjusted for sex) to check mean differences between three age groups (children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents). A significance level was set at 5% (P<0.05).
RESULTS:
Results show that age positively correlates with several behaviours including PCS (r = 0.188), SPH (r =0.159), SN (r = 0.172), TST (r = 0.101), sitting (r=0.078), PSQI score (r = 0.146), walking (r = 0.143), moderate to vigorous PA (r = 0.113), and moderate PA (r = 0.088). Data also showed that age negatively correlates with TV viewing (r = -0.111), sleep hours (r = -0.315), and tablet usage (r =-0.067). When comparing groups, children showed lower means for TV viewing (M=1.713, SD=0.095, ɳ2=0.017), PSQI total (M=4.802, SD=0.169, ɳ2=0.062) than adolescents. Additionally, children had lower means for PCS (M=1.143, SD=0.086, ɳ2=0.039) smartphones (M=3.148, SD=0.184, ɳ2=0.038), SN (M=2.532, SD=0.164, ɳ2=0.030), TST (M=8.673, SD=0.342, ɳ2=0.008), moderate PA (M=26.891, SD=2.003, ɳ2=0.016), walking (M=27.177, SD=2.302, ɳ2=0.024), moderate to vigorous PA (M=88.416, SD=4.646, ɳ2=0.042) than pre-adolescents and adolescents. For vigorous PA (M=34.348, SD=1.938, ɳ2=0.058) children showed lower levels compared to pre-adolescents. Pre-adolescents showed a lower mean than adolescents for ST (M=2.006, SD=0.103, ɳ2=0.024). These differences are statistically significant (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION:
The study highlights age-related variations in movement behaviours, emphasising distinct behavioural patterns across age groups. It reveals that age significantly shapes lifestyle behaviours related to screen time, PA, and sleep patterns. Adolescents tend to spend more time engaged in screens and show lower sleep quality. However, they also showed a higher PA engagement compared to children. Work supported by FCT under the project UIDB04045/2020.