Adherence to the Singapore Integrated 24-Hour Activity Guidelines by Infants and Toddlers and Its Association With Well-Being

• Published in: Journal of physical activity & health 2024-02, Vol.21 (2), p.171-180
• Main Authors: Loh, Guan Yuan, Chua, Terence Buan Kiong, Hian Tan, Kok, Loo, Benny Kai Guo, Quah, Phaik Ling, Chia, Michael Yong Hwa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child; Child, Preschool; Exercise - physiology; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Quality of Life; Sedentary Behavior; Singapore; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1543-3080; 1543-5474; 1543-5474
• DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0244

This study estimated the prevalence of Singapore infants and toddlers who met the new Singapore Integrated 24-Hour Activity Guidelines for Early Childhood and examined its association with well-being. A total of 267 parents of children aged between 0 and 2 years completed an online questionnaire that consists of the Singaporean Children Lifestyle Questionnaire and either the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) Inventory Infant Scale or the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Well-being of infants was measured through parent responses to PedsQL and that of toddlers was measured through Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Data were benchmarked against age-specific guidelines for physical activity, screen time, and sleep in the Singapore Integrated 24-Hour Activity Guidelines for Early Childhood. A higher percentage of infants (37.3%) than toddlers (20.6%) had met 3 guidelines. In contrast, a lower percentage of infants than toddlers met at least one or did not meet any guidelines (3.8% and 0% for infants vs 22.4% and 1.8% for toddlers, respectively). Infants who met more guidelines had significantly higher parent-reported PedsQL total scale score than infants who met fewer guidelines (P < .05). However, the present study found that the number of guidelines met was not associated to infants' PedsQL scale score and toddlers' total difficulty score (P > .05). Adherence to this set of local guidelines should be widely publicized, so parents will have greater awareness and knowledge on cultivating good physical activity, screen time, and sleep habits for their child from a young age.