Table 1.
Comparison of physical activity levels and sedentary time spent outdoors relative to indoors in ECEC
| Study ID | Study Design | Sample size | Risk of bias | Sedentary time | LPA | MVPA | Total PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andersen 2017 [52] | Cross-sectional | 116 | Low | – | – | – | ▲ |
| Copeland 2016 [17] | Cross-sectional | 388 | High | ▼ | ▲ | ▼ | – |
| Lahuerta-Contell 2021 [51] | Cross-sectional | 116 | High | – | – | ▲ | – |
| Raustorp 2012 [16] | Cross-sectional | 50 | High | ▲ | ▲ | ▲ | ▲ |
| Schlechter 2017 [48] | Cross-sectional | 73 | High | ▲ | – | – | ▲ |
| Tandon 2015 [49] | Cross-sectional | 98 | High | ▲ | – | ▲ | – |
| Tandon 2018 [14] {Tandon, 2018 #24} | Cross-sectional | 46 | High | ▲ | ▲ | ▲ | ◄► |
| Trost 2008a [47] | RCT | 20 | Low | – | – | ▲ | – |
| Trost 2008b [47] | RCT | 22 | Low | – | – | ▲ | – |
| Vanderloo 2013 [50] | Cross-sectional | 31 | High | ▲ | – | ▲ | – |
| Summary effect direction | ◄► | ▲ | ▲ | ▲ | |||
Abbreviations: LPA Light intensity physical activity, MVPA Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, TPA Total physical activity; a = intervention group; b = control group
Effect direction: Study level: ▲ = outdoor time benefits outcomes (lower sedentary time; higher physical activity); ▼ = outdoor time not associated with improvements in outcomes (higher sedentary time; lower physical activity); ◄► = conflicting findings; ‘-‘= outcome not assessed
Summary: ▲ = studies show a positive association with outdoor time at ECEC; ◄► = conflicting findings