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The quality of the outdoor environment influences children's health. -A cross-sectional study of preschools.

Söderström, Margareta LU ; Boldemann, Cecilia ; Sahlin, Ullrika LU ; Mårtensson, Fredrika ; Raustorp, Anders and Blennow, Margareta (2013) In Acta paediatrica 102(1). p.83-91
Abstract
AIM: To test how the quality of the outdoor environment of child day care centers (DCCs) influences children's health. METHODS: The environment was assessed using the Outdoor Play Environmental Categories (OPEC) tool; time spent outdoors, and physical activity as measured by pedometer. 172/253 (68%) of children aged 3.0-5.9 from nine DCCs participated in Southern Sweden. Health data collected were body mass index, waist circumference, saliva cortisol, length of night sleep during study, and symptoms and wellbeing which were scored (one-week diary- 121 parent responders). Also, parent-rated wellbeing and health of their child were scored (questionnaire, 132 parent responders). MANOVA, ANOVA and principal component analyses were performed to... (More)
AIM: To test how the quality of the outdoor environment of child day care centers (DCCs) influences children's health. METHODS: The environment was assessed using the Outdoor Play Environmental Categories (OPEC) tool; time spent outdoors, and physical activity as measured by pedometer. 172/253 (68%) of children aged 3.0-5.9 from nine DCCs participated in Southern Sweden. Health data collected were body mass index, waist circumference, saliva cortisol, length of night sleep during study, and symptoms and wellbeing which were scored (one-week diary- 121 parent responders). Also, parent-rated wellbeing and health of their child were scored (questionnaire, 132 parent responders). MANOVA, ANOVA and principal component analyses were performed to identify impacts of the outdoor environment on health. RESULTS: High quality outdoor environment at DCCs is associated with several health aspects in children such as leaner body, longer night sleep, better wellbeing and higher mid-morning saliva cortisol levels. CONCLUSION: The quality of the outdoor environment at DCCs influenced the health and wellbeing of preschool children and should be given more attention among health care professionals and community planners. © 2012 The Author(s)/Acta Paediatrica © 2012 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Night sleep, Outdoor, environment, Physical activity, Child day care, Body mass index, Cortisol
in
Acta paediatrica
volume
102
issue
1
pages
83 - 91
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000312313200028
  • pmid:23035750
  • scopus:84871019308
  • pmid:23035750
ISSN
1651-2227
DOI
10.1111/apa.12047
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a5db087c-e31e-407a-aa8c-36e0f11485ab (old id 3161126)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23035750?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:52:51
date last changed
2024-02-24 15:40:01
@article{a5db087c-e31e-407a-aa8c-36e0f11485ab,
  abstract     = {{AIM: To test how the quality of the outdoor environment of child day care centers (DCCs) influences children's health. METHODS: The environment was assessed using the Outdoor Play Environmental Categories (OPEC) tool; time spent outdoors, and physical activity as measured by pedometer. 172/253 (68%) of children aged 3.0-5.9 from nine DCCs participated in Southern Sweden. Health data collected were body mass index, waist circumference, saliva cortisol, length of night sleep during study, and symptoms and wellbeing which were scored (one-week diary- 121 parent responders). Also, parent-rated wellbeing and health of their child were scored (questionnaire, 132 parent responders). MANOVA, ANOVA and principal component analyses were performed to identify impacts of the outdoor environment on health. RESULTS: High quality outdoor environment at DCCs is associated with several health aspects in children such as leaner body, longer night sleep, better wellbeing and higher mid-morning saliva cortisol levels. CONCLUSION: The quality of the outdoor environment at DCCs influenced the health and wellbeing of preschool children and should be given more attention among health care professionals and community planners. © 2012 The Author(s)/Acta Paediatrica © 2012 Foundation Acta Paediatrica.}},
  author       = {{Söderström, Margareta and Boldemann, Cecilia and Sahlin, Ullrika and Mårtensson, Fredrika and Raustorp, Anders and Blennow, Margareta}},
  issn         = {{1651-2227}},
  keywords     = {{Night sleep; Outdoor; environment; Physical activity; Child day care; Body mass index; Cortisol}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{83--91}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta paediatrica}},
  title        = {{The quality of the outdoor environment influences children's health. -A cross-sectional study of preschools.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apa.12047}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/apa.12047}},
  volume       = {{102}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}