Associations between sedentary behaviour and fine and gross motor skills in 3‐ to 4‐year‐olds: a secondary data analysis from Sunrise International Study pilot studies

Nana A. Kwofie; Adang Suherman; Alex A. Florindo; Amanda Staiano; Amy S. Ha; Anthony D. Okely; Asmaa  El Hamdouchi; Bang Nguyen Pham; Catherine E. Draper; Chiaki Tanaka; Denise Koh; Dong Hoon Kim; E. Kipling Webster; Hongyan Guan; Hong Kim Tang; John J. Reilly; Kar Hau Chong; Marie Löf; Mark S. Tremblay; Mohammad Sorowar Hossain; Nyaradzai Munambah; Penny L. Cross; Pujitha Wickramasinghe; Thanh Van Kim; Xanne Janssen

doi:10.1111/cch.70092

Associations between sedentary behaviour and fine and gross motor skills in 3‐ to 4‐year‐olds: a secondary data analysis from Sunrise International Study pilot studies

Nana A. Kwofie^*, Adang Suherman, Alex A. Florindo, Amanda Staiano, Amy S. Ha, Anthony D. Okely, Asmaa El Hamdouchi, Bang Nguyen Pham, Catherine E. Draper, Chiaki Tanaka, Denise Koh, Dong Hoon Kim, E. Kipling Webster, Hongyan Guan, Hong Kim Tang, John J. Reilly, Kar Hau Chong, Marie Löf, Mark S. Tremblay, Mohammad Sorowar HossainNyaradzai Munambah, Penny L. Cross, Pujitha Wickramasinghe, Thanh Van Kim, Xanne Janssen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Physical Activity And Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background
The evidence on associations between sedentary behaviour (SB) and motor skills in 3- to 4-year-olds is unclear and mostly from high-income countries.

Objective
The objective of this study is to examine associations between (1) screen time (h/day) and total daily SB (h/day), and gross and fine motor skills, and (2) meeting the restraint, screen time and overall SB (restraint and screen time) guidelines and fine and gross motor skills.

Methods
Cross-sectional study of 1394 3- to 4-year-olds from the pilot phase of the SUNRISE International study. Time spent in SB was measured using the activPAL accelerometer, whereas screen time and restraint were measured using a parent questionnaire. Fine and gross motor skills were measured using parent-reported Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). Associations between SB and motor skills were determined using linear and logistic regression, adjusting for sex and socioeconomic status.

Results
Every additional 1 h of screen time was associated with 0.50-point reduction in gross motor skills scores (p = 0.008). More screen time was associated with decreased odds of being on track for fine and gross motor skill development (p < 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively). Meeting the screen time (p = 0.009) and overall SB guidelines (p = 0.006) were favourably associated with fine motor skills scores. Meeting the screen time, restraint and overall SB guidelines were favourably associated with gross motor skills scores (p = 0.007, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), higher odds of being on track for fine (p = 0.033, p = 0.015 and p < 0.001, respectively) and gross motor skills (p = 0.006, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) development.

Conclusion
The present study adds to the evidence on the importance of sedentary behaviour for the motor development of 3- to 4-year-olds. It is important that policy makers and health educators develop strategies that will encourage and promote adherence to sedentary behaviour guidelines among 3- and 4-year-olds.

Original language	English
Article number	e70092
Number of pages	9
Journal	Child: Care, Health and Development
Volume	51
Issue number	3
Early online date	12 May 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70092
Publication status	Published - 12 May 2025

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council; Ghana Scholarship Secretariat; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Grant Number: APP1176858; Canadian Institutes of Health Research Planning and Dissemination. Grant Number: 392396; Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Grant Number: GUP-2018-142; Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Grant Number: 309301/2020-3; Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine’s Fund for Science. Grant Number: 1320/HĐ-TĐHYKPNT; Sasakawa Sports Foundation. Grant Number: 190A2-004; Region ÖstergÖtland Biomedical Research Foundation; Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand; Comprehensive Health and Epidemiological Surveillance System (CHESS); American Council on Exercise; Dr Stella de Silva Research Grant at the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians

Keywords

motor competence
motor skills
preschoolers
restrained sitting
screen time

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1111/cch.70092Licence: CC BY 4.0

Kwofie-etal-CCHD-2025-Associations-between-sedentary-behaviour-and-fine-and-gross-motor-skillsFinal published version, 272 KBLicence: CC BY 4.0

Cite this

Kwofie, N. A., Suherman, A., Florindo, A. A., Staiano, A., Ha, A. S., Okely, A. D., El Hamdouchi, A., Pham, B. N., Draper, C. E., Tanaka, C., Koh, D., Kim, D. H., Webster, E. K., Guan, H., Tang, H. K., Reilly, J. J., Chong, K. H., Löf, M., Tremblay, M. S., ... Janssen, X. (2025). Associations between sedentary behaviour and fine and gross motor skills in 3‐ to 4‐year‐olds: a secondary data analysis from Sunrise International Study pilot studies. Child: Care, Health and Development , 51(3), Article e70092. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70092

@article{e42b573e0f2c405184a12e3c77892500,

title = "Associations between sedentary behaviour and fine and gross motor skills in 3‐ to 4‐year‐olds: a secondary data analysis from Sunrise International Study pilot studies",

abstract = "BackgroundThe evidence on associations between sedentary behaviour (SB) and motor skills in 3- to 4-year-olds is unclear and mostly from high-income countries.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to examine associations between (1) screen time (h/day) and total daily SB (h/day), and gross and fine motor skills, and (2) meeting the restraint, screen time and overall SB (restraint and screen time) guidelines and fine and gross motor skills.MethodsCross-sectional study of 1394 3- to 4-year-olds from the pilot phase of the SUNRISE International study. Time spent in SB was measured using the activPAL accelerometer, whereas screen time and restraint were measured using a parent questionnaire. Fine and gross motor skills were measured using parent-reported Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). Associations between SB and motor skills were determined using linear and logistic regression, adjusting for sex and socioeconomic status.ResultsEvery additional 1 h of screen time was associated with 0.50-point reduction in gross motor skills scores (p = 0.008). More screen time was associated with decreased odds of being on track for fine and gross motor skill development (p < 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively). Meeting the screen time (p = 0.009) and overall SB guidelines (p = 0.006) were favourably associated with fine motor skills scores. Meeting the screen time, restraint and overall SB guidelines were favourably associated with gross motor skills scores (p = 0.007, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), higher odds of being on track for fine (p = 0.033, p = 0.015 and p < 0.001, respectively) and gross motor skills (p = 0.006, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) development.ConclusionThe present study adds to the evidence on the importance of sedentary behaviour for the motor development of 3- to 4-year-olds. It is important that policy makers and health educators develop strategies that will encourage and promote adherence to sedentary behaviour guidelines among 3- and 4-year-olds.",

keywords = "motor competence, motor skills, preschoolers, restrained sitting, screen time",

author = "Kwofie, {Nana A.} and Adang Suherman and Florindo, {Alex A.} and Amanda Staiano and Ha, {Amy S.} and Okely, {Anthony D.} and {El Hamdouchi}, Asmaa and Pham, {Bang Nguyen} and Draper, {Catherine E.} and Chiaki Tanaka and Denise Koh and Kim, {Dong Hoon} and Webster, {E. Kipling} and Hongyan Guan and Tang, {Hong Kim} and Reilly, {John J.} and Chong, {Kar Hau} and Marie L{\"o}f and Tremblay, {Mark S.} and Hossain, {Mohammad Sorowar} and Nyaradzai Munambah and Cross, {Penny L.} and Pujitha Wickramasinghe and Kim, {Thanh Van} and Xanne Janssen",

year = "2025",

month = may,

day = "12",

doi = "10.1111/cch.70092",

language = "English",

volume = "51",

journal = "Child: Care, Health and Development ",

issn = "0305-1862",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "3",

}

Kwofie, NA, Suherman, A, Florindo, AA, Staiano, A, Ha, AS, Okely, AD, El Hamdouchi, A, Pham, BN, Draper, CE, Tanaka, C, Koh, D, Kim, DH, Webster, EK, Guan, H, Tang, HK, Reilly, JJ, Chong, KH, Löf, M, Tremblay, MS, Hossain, MS, Munambah, N, Cross, PL, Wickramasinghe, P, Kim, TV & Janssen, X 2025, 'Associations between sedentary behaviour and fine and gross motor skills in 3‐ to 4‐year‐olds: a secondary data analysis from Sunrise International Study pilot studies', Child: Care, Health and Development , vol. 51, no. 3, e70092. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70092

Associations between sedentary behaviour and fine and gross motor skills in 3‐ to 4‐year‐olds: a secondary data analysis from Sunrise International Study pilot studies. / Kwofie, Nana A.; Suherman, Adang; Florindo, Alex A. et al.
In: Child: Care, Health and Development , Vol. 51, No. 3, e70092, 12.05.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Associations between sedentary behaviour and fine and gross motor skills in 3‐ to 4‐year‐olds

T2 - a secondary data analysis from Sunrise International Study pilot studies

AU - Kwofie, Nana A.

AU - Suherman, Adang

AU - Florindo, Alex A.

AU - Staiano, Amanda

AU - Ha, Amy S.

AU - Okely, Anthony D.

AU - El Hamdouchi, Asmaa

AU - Pham, Bang Nguyen

AU - Draper, Catherine E.

AU - Tanaka, Chiaki

AU - Koh, Denise

AU - Kim, Dong Hoon

AU - Webster, E. Kipling

AU - Guan, Hongyan

AU - Tang, Hong Kim

AU - Reilly, John J.

AU - Chong, Kar Hau

AU - Löf, Marie

AU - Tremblay, Mark S.

AU - Hossain, Mohammad Sorowar

AU - Munambah, Nyaradzai

AU - Cross, Penny L.

AU - Wickramasinghe, Pujitha

AU - Kim, Thanh Van

AU - Janssen, Xanne

PY - 2025/5/12

Y1 - 2025/5/12

N2 - BackgroundThe evidence on associations between sedentary behaviour (SB) and motor skills in 3- to 4-year-olds is unclear and mostly from high-income countries.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to examine associations between (1) screen time (h/day) and total daily SB (h/day), and gross and fine motor skills, and (2) meeting the restraint, screen time and overall SB (restraint and screen time) guidelines and fine and gross motor skills.MethodsCross-sectional study of 1394 3- to 4-year-olds from the pilot phase of the SUNRISE International study. Time spent in SB was measured using the activPAL accelerometer, whereas screen time and restraint were measured using a parent questionnaire. Fine and gross motor skills were measured using parent-reported Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). Associations between SB and motor skills were determined using linear and logistic regression, adjusting for sex and socioeconomic status.ResultsEvery additional 1 h of screen time was associated with 0.50-point reduction in gross motor skills scores (p = 0.008). More screen time was associated with decreased odds of being on track for fine and gross motor skill development (p < 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively). Meeting the screen time (p = 0.009) and overall SB guidelines (p = 0.006) were favourably associated with fine motor skills scores. Meeting the screen time, restraint and overall SB guidelines were favourably associated with gross motor skills scores (p = 0.007, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), higher odds of being on track for fine (p = 0.033, p = 0.015 and p < 0.001, respectively) and gross motor skills (p = 0.006, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) development.ConclusionThe present study adds to the evidence on the importance of sedentary behaviour for the motor development of 3- to 4-year-olds. It is important that policy makers and health educators develop strategies that will encourage and promote adherence to sedentary behaviour guidelines among 3- and 4-year-olds.

AB - BackgroundThe evidence on associations between sedentary behaviour (SB) and motor skills in 3- to 4-year-olds is unclear and mostly from high-income countries.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to examine associations between (1) screen time (h/day) and total daily SB (h/day), and gross and fine motor skills, and (2) meeting the restraint, screen time and overall SB (restraint and screen time) guidelines and fine and gross motor skills.MethodsCross-sectional study of 1394 3- to 4-year-olds from the pilot phase of the SUNRISE International study. Time spent in SB was measured using the activPAL accelerometer, whereas screen time and restraint were measured using a parent questionnaire. Fine and gross motor skills were measured using parent-reported Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). Associations between SB and motor skills were determined using linear and logistic regression, adjusting for sex and socioeconomic status.ResultsEvery additional 1 h of screen time was associated with 0.50-point reduction in gross motor skills scores (p = 0.008). More screen time was associated with decreased odds of being on track for fine and gross motor skill development (p < 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively). Meeting the screen time (p = 0.009) and overall SB guidelines (p = 0.006) were favourably associated with fine motor skills scores. Meeting the screen time, restraint and overall SB guidelines were favourably associated with gross motor skills scores (p = 0.007, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), higher odds of being on track for fine (p = 0.033, p = 0.015 and p < 0.001, respectively) and gross motor skills (p = 0.006, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) development.ConclusionThe present study adds to the evidence on the importance of sedentary behaviour for the motor development of 3- to 4-year-olds. It is important that policy makers and health educators develop strategies that will encourage and promote adherence to sedentary behaviour guidelines among 3- and 4-year-olds.

KW - motor competence

KW - motor skills

KW - preschoolers

KW - restrained sitting

KW - screen time

U2 - 10.1111/cch.70092

DO - 10.1111/cch.70092

M3 - Article

SN - 0305-1862

VL - 51

JO - Child: Care, Health and Development

JF - Child: Care, Health and Development

IS - 3

M1 - e70092

ER -

Associations between sedentary behaviour and fine and gross motor skills in 3‐ to 4‐year‐olds: a secondary data analysis from Sunrise International Study pilot studies

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Cite this