Children’s physical activities and their correlates with space–time framework: A scoping review in a high-density Asian city

Transportation significantly modulates physical activity (PA), directly through active travel and indirectly by offering access to PA opportunities. A comprehensive understanding of PA patterns and correlates can inform decision-making. However, previous reviews often neglect the space–time dimensions of PA’s pattern and correlates and the complex interplay of daily activities that shape children’s lifeworld and, subsequently, their PA. This paper integrates a space–time framework to conduct a systematic scoping review of the children’s PA and its correlates, identifying research gaps to enhance spatial–temporal resolution. This scoping review focuses on children aged 6–12 in Hong Kong. With 574 records from online databases, 37 reports met the inclusion criteria. There are 136 observations of PA conduct, with 65% emphasizing PA intensity and 61% recording only daily mean states. Additionally, from 221 observations of PA correlates, 56.1% focus on total daily PA measured by intensity. This review attempts to segment PA into different time domains and explore multi-level factors. Current evidence on the space–time patterns of PA (when, how, where?) remains limited, particularly for weekends, transportation, and home. Besides, few studies consider the interaction of multi-level factors over space and time, and none examine the PA outcome out of the competition among daily activities for time and participation. This review highlighted some research gaps and suggested potential interdisciplinary collaborations to enhance the understanding of PA patterns and their correlates.