Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyle and Physical Activity of School-aged Children : Survey of Students at Japanese Language Supplementary School in the United States.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and associated lockdowns affected many people regardless of location, age, or gender. This study aimed to focus on school-aged children studying at a Japanese Language Supplementary School (JLSS) in the southwestern region of the United States and assessed the impact of COVID-19 on their lifestyle and physical activity (PA). An online-based cross-sectional survey was administered to students (age range : 6-18) enrolled in a JLSS as of June 11, 2021. Data were collected from 151 students. The questionnaire consisted of lifestyle and PA questions. A paired and Student t-test was used to test the differences in changes before COVID-19 and during COVID-19 among children. Chi-square tests were used for comparisons with descriptive analyses of frequencies. Level of statistical significance was set at p <.05. Screen time was significantly longer on weekdays (t = 8.71, p<.001) and weekends (t = 5.94, p < .001) than before COVID-19. The number of children who went to bed after 10 pm was significantly higher (χ2 = 4.06, p < 0.05) than before the new coronavirus infection. The frequency of PA per week was significantly higher (χ2 = 4.01, p < 0.05) in the group using digital devices. Findings suggested that the use of digital devices for PA can enhance PA frequency in JLSS students. J. Med. Invest. 72 : 117-123, February, 2025.