Correlates of sedentary behavior in Asian preschool-aged children: A systematic review

Abstract

This systematic review aims to identify the multilevel correlates of sedentary behavior (SB) and its sub-domains among preschool-aged children aged 0-7 years in Asia. We systematically searched for studies published from 2000 onwards using terms related to SB correlates and Asia in six databases. Eligible studies were observational and used quantitative methods to examine correlates of total, and domain-specific SB (screen viewing [SV] and non-screen-based SB) in Asian children living in Asia. Two reviewers independently screened identified references. Following quality assessment of included studies, we performed narrative synthesis to summarize the evidence on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental correlates of total and domain-specific SB (PROSPERO: CRD42018095268). Twenty-two studies from 4 regions and 12 countries/territories were included. Out of the 94 correlates explored, the following associations were consistent: older age, being a boy, non-Chinese ethnicity (Southeast Asia), younger maternal age, higher maternal and paternal television-viewing time with higher SV; higher SV at earlier age with higher SV and total SB; and presence of TV/computer in the bedroom with higher leisure-time SB. We encourage more studies from low- and middle-income Asian countries with an increased focus on different SB domains, further exploration of environmental correlates, and the use of objective measurements to capture SB.

Keywords: correlates; health behaviors; young children.