IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i23p12426-d688222.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Associations between Parent–Child Nature Visits and Sleep, Physical Activity and Weight Status among Finnish 3–6-Year-Olds

Author

Listed:
  • Juuli-Mari Kokkonen

    (Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Henna Vepsäläinen

    (Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Anna Abdollahi

    (Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
    Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Hanna Paasio

    (Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Samuli Ranta

    (School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, Philosophical Faculty, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland)

  • Maijaliisa Erkkola

    (Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Eva Roos

    (Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
    Department of Public Health, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
    Department of Food Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 560, 751 22 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Carola Ray

    (Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
    Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014 Helsinki, Finland)

Abstract

Nature visits and nature exposure have been shown to be favorably associated with children’s health and development, but the research regarding their associations with children’s lifestyle habits is limited. The current study aimed to investigate the associations between the frequency of parent–child nature visits and sleep, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and weight status among three- to six-year-old Finnish preschoolers. Parents and their children (n = 864) participated in a cross-sectional DAGIS (increased health and wellbeing in preschools) study, which was conducted between 2015 and 2016 in Finland. In total, 798 parents answered a questionnaire on the frequency of parent–child nature visits, which also included questions on sociodemographic factors and their children’s sleep habits. Parents also reported children’s bedtimes and wake-up times and children wore an accelerometer for seven days. Trained researchers measured children’s weight and height. Linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted. More frequent parent–child nature visits were associated with children’s longer sleep duration at night, higher amounts of MVPA outside preschool time and, among girls, good sleep consistency. The frequency of parent–child nature visits was not significantly associated with whether children were overweight or obese or not. Promoting parent–child nature visits could be a cost-effective way to increase young children’s MVPA and enhance night-time sleep.

Suggested Citation

  • Juuli-Mari Kokkonen & Henna Vepsäläinen & Anna Abdollahi & Hanna Paasio & Samuli Ranta & Maijaliisa Erkkola & Eva Roos & Carola Ray, 2021. "Associations between Parent–Child Nature Visits and Sleep, Physical Activity and Weight Status among Finnish 3–6-Year-Olds," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-11, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:23:p:12426-:d:688222
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/23/12426/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/23/12426/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elviira Lehto & Carola Ray & Henna Vepsäläinen & Liisa Korkalo & Reetta Lehto & Riikka Kaukonen & Eira Suhonen & Mari Nislin & Kaija Nissinen & Essi Skaffari & Leena Koivusilta & Nina Sajaniemi & Maij, 2018. "Increased Health and Wellbeing in Preschools (DAGIS) Study—Differences in Children’s Energy Balance-Related Behaviors (EBRBs) and in Long-Term Stress by Parental Educational Level," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Marcia P. Jimenez & Nicole V. DeVille & Elise G. Elliott & Jessica E. Schiff & Grete E. Wilt & Jaime E. Hart & Peter James, 2021. "Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Giovanna Calogiuri, 2016. "Natural Environments and Childhood Experiences Promoting Physical Activity, Examining the Mediational Effects of Feelings about Nature and Social Networks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nabetse Baruc Blas-Miranda & Ana Lilia Lozada-Tequeanes & Juan Antonio Miranda-Zuñiga & Marcia P. Jimenez, 2022. "Green Space Exposure and Obesity in the Mexican Adult Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Lars Even Egner & Stefan Sütterlin & Giovanna Calogiuri, 2020. "Proposing a Framework for the Restorative Effects of Nature through Conditioning: Conditioned Restoration Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Jorge H. Amorim & Magnuz Engardt & Christer Johansson & Isabel Ribeiro & Magnus Sannebro, 2021. "Regulating and Cultural Ecosystem Services of Urban Green Infrastructure in the Nordic Countries: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Shirelle H. Hallum & Marilyn E. Wende & Farnaz Hesam Shariati & Kelsey M. Thomas & Anna L. Chupak & Eleanor Witherspoon & Andrew T. Kaczynski, 2024. "Unearthing Inequities in the Relationship between Multiple Sociodemographic Factors and Diverse Elements of Park Availability and Quality in a Major Southern Metropolitan Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-19, February.
    5. Zhimeng Wang & Yue Li & Jingchen An & Wenyi Dong & Hongqidi Li & Huirui Ma & Junhui Wang & Jianping Wu & Ting Jiang & Guangxin Wang, 2022. "Effects of Restorative Environment and Presence on Anxiety and Depression Based on Interactive Virtual Reality Scenarios," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-27, June.
    6. Miek C. Jong & Trine Stub & Eric Mulder & Mats Jong, 2022. "The Development and Acceptability of a Wilderness Programme to Support the Health and Well-Being of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: The WAYA Programme," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-21, September.
    7. Kamila Czepczor-Bernat & Justyna Modrzejewska & Adriana Modrzejewska & Viren Swami, 2022. "The Impact of a Woodland Walk on Body Image: A Field Experiment and an Assessment of Dispositional and Environmental Determinants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-13, November.
    8. Giovanna Calogiuri & Grete G. Patil & Geir Aamodt, 2016. "Is Green Exercise for All? A Descriptive Study of Green Exercise Habits and Promoting Factors in Adult Norwegians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, November.
    9. Giovanna Calogiuri & Lewis R. Elliott, 2017. "Why Do People Exercise in Natural Environments? Norwegian Adults’ Motives for Nature-, Gym-, and Sports-Based Exercise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, April.
    10. Nicole V. DeVille & Linda Powers Tomasso & Olivia P. Stoddard & Grete E. Wilt & Teresa H. Horton & Kathleen L. Wolf & Eric Brymer & Peter H. Kahn & Peter James, 2021. "Time Spent in Nature Is Associated with Increased Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-18, July.
    11. Andreia Teixeira & Ronaldo Gabriel & José Martinho & Irene Oliveira & Mário Santos & Graça Pinto & Helena Moreira, 2023. "Distance to Natural Environments, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Body Composition in Women: An Exploratory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-20, February.
    12. Levi N. Bonnell & Benjamin Littenberg, 2022. "Nonlinear Relationships among the Natural Environment, Health, and Sociodemographic Characteristics across US Counties," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-10, June.
    13. Matt Noseworthy & Luke Peddie & E. Jean Buckler & Faith Park & Margaret Pham & Spencer Pratt & Arpreet Singh & Eli Puterman & Teresa Liu-Ambrose, 2023. "The Effects of Outdoor versus Indoor Exercise on Psychological Health, Physical Health, and Physical Activity Behaviour: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-18, January.
    14. Myriam Preuß & Mark Nieuwenhuijsen & Sandra Marquez & Marta Cirach & Payam Dadvand & Margarita Triguero-Mas & Christopher Gidlow & Regina Grazuleviciene & Hanneke Kruize & Wilma Zijlema, 2019. "Low Childhood Nature Exposure is Associated with Worse Mental Health in Adulthood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-18, May.
    15. Elina Engberg & Carola Ray & Suvi Määttä & Rejane A. O. Figueiredo & Marja H. Leppänen & Riikka Pajulahti & Leena Koivusilta & Liisa Korkalo & Kaija Nissinen & Henna Vepsäläinen & Nina Sajaniemi & Mai, 2022. "Parental Happiness Associates With the Co-occurrence of Preschool-Aged Children’s Healthy Energy Balance-Related Behaviors," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1493-1507, April.
    16. Elisabetta Ricciardi & Giuseppina Spano & Antonella Lopez & Luigi Tinella & Carmine Clemente & Giuseppe Elia & Payam Dadvand & Giovanni Sanesi & Andrea Bosco & Alessandro Oronzo Caffò, 2022. "Long-Term Exposure to Greenspace and Cognitive Function during the Lifespan: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-24, September.
    17. Samantha Keaulana & Melissa Kahili-Heede & Lorinda Riley & Mei Linn N. Park & Kuaiwi Laka Makua & Jetney Kahaulahilahi Vegas & Mapuana C. K. Antonio, 2021. "A Scoping Review of Nature, Land, and Environmental Connectedness and Relatedness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-30, May.
    18. Xuanyi Wang & Shulin Chen, 2023. "The Moderating Effects of Gender and Dispositional Mindful Observation on the Relationship between Nature Contact and Psychological Distress: A Cross-Sectional Study in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-13, November.
    19. Roohi Kharofa & Robert Siegel & Kristin Stackpole, 2019. "What to Do about Childhood Obesity?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-4, October.
    20. James Faulkner & Wendy J. O’Brien & Beth Stuart & Lee Stoner & John Batten & Daniel Wadsworth & Christopher D. Askew & Claire E. Badenhorst & Erin Byrd & Nick Draper & Catherine Elliot & Simon Fryer &, 2022. "Physical Activity, Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults within and during the Easing of COVID-19 Restrictions, in the United Kingdom and New Zealand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:23:p:12426-:d:688222. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.