About this Research Topic

Background

Robust evidence has shown that all movement behaviours (sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity) play an important role in children’s growth and development (physical, cognitive, and social-emotional) and, due to their tracking features, have significant health effects across the lifespan. Thus, researchers have taken an interest in how the different (non)movement behaviors make up a whole day (24-hour movement behaviors); that is, different patterns of movement combinations, and how they might potentially affect health- and cognitive-related outcomes. Attaining the recommended levels of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep, together with sports participation since an early age, may be the cornerstone for healthier and more sustainable societies, through an improved quality of life, stronger and more stable motor and cognitive paths, accompanied by wiser, better, and more conscious life choices.

Therefore, it seems paramount to understand how the relationship of co-dependence between each of these behaviors happens, and further research is needed to determine the mechanisms of these complex and dynamic relationships, which are not yet fully elucidated. This will potentially help in determining the most practical and effective lifestyle strategies, together with designing better targeted interventions for promoting healthy populations.

This Research Topic presents an opportunity to advance the scientific knowledge, addressing research gaps and framing future research questions, to improve our knowledge in this field. We also encourage the submission of scientific articles addressing the following:

• effects of coronavirus (COVID-19) on sleep, sedentary behavior, and/or physical activity levels, patterns, or changes
• trends
• the effects of public health policies related to 24-hour movement behaviors or those exploring their self-reported assessments.

All study designs and all age ranges are welcomed.

Keywords: sleep, sedentary behavior, movement, physical activity, mental health

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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