Environmental and practice factors associated with children’s device-measured physical activity and sedentary time in early childhood education and care centres: a systematic review

Table 1 Comparison of physical activity levels and sedentary time spent outdoors relative to indoors in ECEC

Study ID	Study Design	Sample size	Risk of bias	Sedentary time	LPA	MVPA	Total PA
Andersen 2017 [52]	Cross-sectional	116	Low	–	–	–	▲
Copeland 2016 [17]	Cross-sectional	388	High	▼	▲	▼	–
Lahuerta-Contell 2021 [51]	Cross-sectional	116	High	–	–	▲	–
Raustorp 2012 [16]	Cross-sectional	50	High	▲	▲	▲	▲
Schlechter 2017 [48]	Cross-sectional	73	High	▲	–	–	▲
Tandon 2015 [49]	Cross-sectional	98	High	▲	–	▲	–
Tandon 2018 [14] {Tandon, 2018 #24}	Cross-sectional	46	High	▲	▲	▲	◄►
Trost 2008^a [47]	RCT	20	Low	–	–	▲	–
Trost 2008^b [47]	RCT	22	Low	–	–	▲	–
Vanderloo 2013 [50]	Cross-sectional	31	High	▲	–	▲	–
Summary effect direction				◄►	▲	▲	▲

Abbreviations: LPA Light intensity physical activity, MVPA Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, TPA Total physical activity; ^a = intervention group; ^b = control group
Effect direction: Study level: ▲ = outdoor time benefits outcomes (lower sedentary time; higher physical activity); ▼ = outdoor time not associated with improvements in outcomes (higher sedentary time; lower physical activity); ◄► = conflicting findings; ‘-‘= outcome not assessed
Summary: ▲ = studies show a positive association with outdoor time at ECEC; ◄► = conflicting findings

ISSN: 1479-5868