Outdoor Activities and Children's Physical Behavior in Urban Environments: Quantifying Relationships between Outdoor Play, Moderate-to-Vigorous Activity, and Sedentary Time
Abstract
The increase in sedentary behavior among children has become a significant public health concern, particularly in developing countries. This cross-sectional study examined the relationships between outdoor activities, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary behavior in 200 elementary school children aged 8–12 years (95 boys, 105 girls; mean age = 10.2 years) from four public schools in West Java, Indonesia. Outdoor activity was assessed using a validated parent-proxy questionnaire, physical activity was measured using ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers over seven consecutive days, and sedentary behavior was evaluated using the Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. Children averaged 1.8±0.9 hours/day of outdoor activity, 68.4±21.7 minutes/day of MVPA, and 4.2±1.5 hours/day of sedentary behavior. Outdoor activity showed a strong positive correlation with MVPA (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) and a strong negative correlation with sedentary behavior (r = −0.55, p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated that outdoor activity significantly predicted MVPA (β = 0.62, R<sup>²</sup> = 0.38, p < 0.001) and sedentary behavior (β = −0.55, R<sup>²</sup> = 0.30, p < 0.001). Children with higher outdoor activity (≥1.7 hours/day) had significantly higher MVPA and lower sedentary behavior compared to those with lower outdoor activity. These findings highlight the important role of outdoor activities in improving physical activity levels and reducing sedentary behavior among children, suggesting that promoting outdoor play should be a priority for parents, schools, and policymakers.