The DOI matches its Crossref record; 74 of the 74 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A socio-ecological approach to physical activity interventions in childcare: a systematic review
Open accessAbstract
The promotion of physical activity (PA) in young children requires effective interventions. This article reviews the evidence on PA interventions in childcare by applying a socio-ecological approach. A computer-based literature search for intervention studies aimed at increasing children's PA levels was run across four databases: SPORTDiscus, ISI Web of Science, PsycINFO and ERIC. The participants had to be in childcare, aged 2-6-year-old, and their pre- and post- intervention PA levels measured. Selection was restricted to peer-reviewed publications and to studies conducted in childcare settings. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and their methodological quality was assessed. Seven studies exhibited high methodological quality; twelve were rated as moderate and four low. The effectiveness of the interventions was determined according to the post-intervention behavioral changes reported in children's PA. Fourteen studies found increases in PA levels or reductions in sedentary time, although the changes were modest. The data remain too limited to allow firm conclusions to be drawn on the effectiveness of the components mediating PA interventions, although PA-specific in-service teacher training seems a potential strategy. The findings of this review indicate that children's PA remained low and did not approach the 180 min/day criteria. It may be that more intensive multilevel and multicomponent interventions based on a comprehensive model are needed.
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“Both experience and personal characteristics played an important role in the promotion of PA among children in the childcare setting (61).”
From How can physical activity be promoted among children and adolescents? A systematic review of reviews across settings (2019) · cites this paper as [61]
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“while one review stated that evidence on parental support “remains unclear” (61).”
From How can physical activity be promoted among children and adolescents? A systematic review of reviews across settings (2019) · cites this paper as [61]
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“Nevertheless, Mehtälä et al. (61) also stated that family is the most influential setting for young children, and that a partnership between families and childcare is crucial.”
From How can physical activity be promoted among children and adolescents? A systematic review of reviews across settings (2019) · cites this paper as [61]
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“Research focuses primarily on individual level interventions even though community and policy level interventions are considered to be more effective in terms of public health (61).”
From How can physical activity be promoted among children and adolescents? A systematic review of reviews across settings (2019) · cites this paper as [61]
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Tewari, K., & Du, X. (2026) · Leisure Sciences · doi:10.1080/01490400.2026.2721399
Yang, P., Wang, Y., Jiang, X., Ding, Z., Zhang, L., Bao, X., 阚迪, Shen, H., Hu, J., & Yin, J. (2026) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/94697
Metadata
- Authors
- Mehtälä, M. A., Sääkslahti, A., Inkinen, M., & Poskiparta, M. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Jyväskylä (FI)
- ORCID
- Sääkslahti, Arja
- Venue
- International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
- Published
- 2014
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 22
- ISSN
- 1479-5868 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3936868
- OpenAlex
- W2150485155
- Cited by
- 199
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 1.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Jyväskylä University Digital Archive (University of Jyväskylä) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Children's Physical and Motor Development
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- physical activity interventions, child care, young children, socio-ecological model, sedentary behavior, teacher professional development, multilevel interventions, multicomponent intervention, intervention effectiveness, physical activity promotion
- MeSH terms
- Child, Child Behavior, Child, Preschool, Health Promotion, Humans, Motor Activity, Socioeconomic Factors, Health Behavior, Guidelines as Topic, Internet
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