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.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Figures
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979) · Harvard University Press eBooks · doi:10.4159/9780674028845 · Cited by 26,084
Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research, and Practice
(1992) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-116-4-350_1 · Cited by 13,232
The ecology of human development : experiments by nature and design
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979) · Cited by 12,580
‘Small Changes' to Diet and Physical Activity Behaviors for Weight Management
Hills, A. P., Byrne, N. M., Lindstrom, R. C., & Hill, J. O. (2013) · Obesity Facts · doi:10.1159/000345030 · Cited by 9,526
(1985) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 9,143
An ecological perspective on health promotion programs
McLeroy, K. R., Bibeau, D., Steckler, A., & Glanz, K. (1988) · Health Education Quarterly · doi:10.1177/109019818801500401 · Cited by 8,502
A review of correlates of physical activity of children and adolescents
SALLIS, J. F., PROCHASKA, J. J., & TAYLOR, W. C. (2000) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1097/00005768-200005000-00014 · Cited by 4,421
Health behavior and health education
(1990) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.28-2173 · Cited by 2,919
Translating Social Ecological Theory into Guidelines for Community Health Promotion
Stokols, D. (1996) · American Journal of Health Promotion · doi:10.4278/0890-1171-10.4.282 · Cited by 2,763
Physical activity from childhood to adulthood
Telama, R., Yang, X., Viikari, J., Välimäki, I., Wanne, O., & Raitakari, O. (2005) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2004.12.003 · Cited by 1,585
THEORY AT A GLANCE: A GUIDE FOR HEALTH PROMOTION PRACTICE
Croyle, R. T. (2005) · Cited by 1,396
Ekelund, U. (2012) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2012.156 · Cited by 1,158
Are interventions theory-based? Development of a theory coding scheme.
Michie, S., & Prestwich, A. (2010) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0016939 · Cited by 855
Validation and Calibration of an Accelerometer in Preschool Children
Pate, R. R., Almeida, M. J., McIver, K. L., Pfeiffer, K. A., & Dowda, M. C. (2006) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2006.234 · Cited by 726
Systematic review of physical activity and health in the early years (aged 0-4 years)
Timmons, B. W., LeBlanc, A. G., Carson, V., Connor Gorber, S., Dillman, C., Janssen, I., Kho, M. E., Spence, J. C., Stearns, J. A., & Tremblay, M. S. (2012) · Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism · doi:10.1139/h2012-070 · Cited by 626
Officer, C. M. (2013) · Cited by 624
Physical Activity Among Children Attending Preschools
Pate, R. R., Pfeiffer, K. A., Trost, S. G., Ziegler, P., & Dowda, M. C. (2004) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.2003-1088-l · Cited by 602
Tracking Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Childhood
Jones, R. A., Hinkley, T., Okely, A. D., & Salmon, J. (2013) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.03.001 · Cited by 549
Theory, research, and practice
Cheldelin, S. I., Druckman, D., Fast, L. A., & Clements, K. P. (2008) · Cited by 486
The Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model: A Conceptual Bridge Between Theory and Practice
Welk, G. J. (1999) · Quest · doi:10.1080/00336297.1999.10484297 · Cited by 464
Fitzgibbon, M., Stolley, M., Schiffer, L., van Horn, L., KauferChristoffel, K., & Dyer, A. (2005) · Jornal de Pediatria · doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2004.12.019 · Cited by 411
State of the Art Reviews: Measurement of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents
Trost, S. G. (2007) · American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · doi:10.1177/1559827607301686 · Cited by 405
Physical activity to prevent obesity in young children: cluster randomised controlled trial
Reilly, J. J., Kelly, L. A., Montgomery, C., Williamson, A., Fisher, A., McColl, J. H., Conte, R. L., Paton, J. Y., & Grant, S. (2006) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.38979.623773.55 · Cited by 379
Interventions to Prevent Obesity in 0–5 Year Olds: An Updated Systematic Review of the Literature
Hesketh, K. D., & Campbell, K. J. (2010) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2009.429 · Cited by 365
Social and Environmental Factors Associated With Preschoolers’ Nonsedentary Physical Activity
Brown, W. H., Pfeiffer, K. A., McIver, K. L., Dowda, M. C., Addy, C. L., & Pate, R. R. (2009) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01245.x · Cited by 363
Assessment of the Integration of the Ecological Approach in Health Promotion Programs
Richard, L., Potvin, L., Kishchuk, N. A., Prlic, H., & Green, L. W. (1996) · American Journal of Health Promotion · doi:10.4278/0890-1171-10.4.318 · Cited by 313
Calibration and Evaluation of an Objective Measure of Physical Activity in Preschool Children
Sirard, J. R., Trost, S. G., Pfeiffer, K. A., Dowda, M. C., & Pate, R. R. (2005) · Journal of Physical Activity and Health · doi:10.1123/jpah.2.3.345 · Cited by 311
Directly Observed Physical Activity Levels in Preschool Children
Pate, R. R., McIver, K. L., Dowda, M. C., Brown, W. H., & Addy, C. L. (2008) · Journal of School Health · doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2008.00327.x · Cited by 309
Community wide interventions for increasing physical activity
Baker, P., Francis, D. P., Soares, J., Weightman, A. L., & Foster, C. E. (2015) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd008366.pub3 · Cited by 305
Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years (aged 0–4 years)
Tremblay, M. S., LeBlanc, A. G., Carson, V., Choquette, L., Gorber, S. C., Dillman, C. J., Duggan, M., Gordon, M. J., Hicks, A. L., Janssen, I., et al. (2012) · Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism · doi:10.1139/h2012-018 · Cited by 292
Influences of Preschool Policies and Practices on Children's Physical Activity
Dowda, M. C., PATE, R. R., Trost, S. G., Almeida, M. J., & Sirard, J. R. (2004) · Journal of Community Health · doi:10.1023/b:johe.0000022025.77294.af · Cited by 263
Hip‐Hop to Health Jr. for Latino Preschool Children
Fitzgibbon, M., Stolley, M. R., Schiffer, L. A., Horn, L. V., KauferChristoffel, K., & Dyer, A. R. (2006) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2006.186 · Cited by 250
An Objective Method for Measurement of Sedentary Behavior in 3‐ to 4‐Year Olds
Reilly, J. J., Coyle, J., Kelly, L. A., Burke, G., Grant, S., & Paton, J. Y. (2003) · Obesity Research · doi:10.1038/oby.2003.158 · Cited by 237
Low Levels of Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Preschoolers in Child Care
Reilly, J. J. (2010) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e3181cea100 · Cited by 233
Puder, J. J., Marques-Vidal, P. M., Schindler, C., Zahner, L., Niederer, I., Bürgi, F., Ebenegger, V., Nydegger, A., & Kriemler, S. (2011) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.d6195 · Cited by 232
Physical activity in child-care centers: do teachers hold the key to the playground?
Copeland, K. A., Kendeigh, C. A., Saelens, B. E., Kalkwarf, H. J., & Sherman, S. N. (2011) · Health Education Research · doi:10.1093/her/cyr038 · Cited by 218
A childhood obesity intervention developed by families for families: results from a pilot study
Davison, K. K., Jurkowski, J. M., Li, K., Kranz, S., & Lawson, H. A. (2013) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/1479-5868-10-3 · Cited by 214
Hip‐Hop to Health Jr. Obesity Prevention Effectiveness Trial: Postintervention Results
Fitzgibbon, M., Stolley, M. R., Schiffer, L. A., Braunschweig, C. L., Gomez, S. L., Horn, L. V., & Dyer, A. R. (2010) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2010.314 · Cited by 209
Hannon, J. C., & Brown, B. B. (2008) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.01.006 · Cited by 200
Economic Analysis of Physical Activity Interventions
Wu, S., Cohen, D. A., Shi, Y., Pearson, M. L., & Sturm, R. (2011) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2010.10.029 · Cited by 190
Jones, R. A., Riethmuller, A., Hesketh, K. D., Trezise, J., Batterham, M. J., & Okely, A. D. (2011) · Pediatric Exercise Science · doi:10.1123/pes.23.4.600 · Cited by 185
Interventions for increasing physical activity at child care
WARD, D. S., VAUGHN, A., McWILLIAMS, C., & HALES, D. (2010) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e3181cea406 · Cited by 183
The effects of increasing outdoor play time on physical activity in Latino preschool children
Alhassan, S., Sirard, J. R., & Robinson, T. N. (2007) · International Journal of Pediatric Obesity · doi:10.1080/17477160701520108 · Cited by 180
Accelerometer-derived physical activity levels of preschoolers: A meta-analysis
Bornstein, D. B., Beets, M. W., Byun, W., & McIver, K. L. (2011) · Journal of science and medicine in sport · doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2011.05.007 · Cited by 179
Nutrition and Physical Activity in Child Care
Ward, D. S., Benjamin, S. E., Ammerman, A. S., Ball, S. C., Neelon, B., & Bangdiwala, S. I. (2008) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2008.06.030 · Cited by 173
Feasibility and Efficacy of a “Move and Learn” Physical Activity Curriculum in Preschool Children
Trost, S. G., Fees, B. S., & Dzewaltowski, D. A. (2008) · Journal of Physical Activity and Health · doi:10.1123/jpah.5.1.88 · Cited by 167
Bellows, L. L., Davies, P. L., Anderson, J. E., & Kennedy, C. (2012) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.2013.005777 · Cited by 164
Cardon, G., Labarque, V., Smits, D., & Bourdeaudhuij, I. D. (2009) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.02.013 · Cited by 161
Calibration and comparison of accelerometer cut points in preschool children
Cauwenberghe, E. V., Labarque, V., Trost, S. G., Bourdeaudhuij, I. M. D., & Cardon, G. (2010) · International Journal of Pediatric Obesity · doi:10.3109/17477166.2010.526223 · Cited by 152
Kaphingst, K. M., & Story, M. (2009) · PubMed · Cited by 147
O’Dwyer, M. V., Fairclough, S. J., Knowles, Z. R., & Stratton, G. (2012) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/1479-5868-9-117 · Cited by 113
Copeland, K. A., Sherman, S. N., Kendeigh, C. A., Kalkwarf, H. J., & Saelens, B. E. (2012) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.2011-2102 · Cited by 111
Parental and Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity of Children Attending Preschool
Dowda, M. C. (2011) · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.84 · Cited by 107
Effects of Teacher-Encouraged Physical Activity on Preschool Playgrounds
Brown, W. H., Googe, H. S., McIver, K. L., & Rathel, J. M. (2009) · Journal of Early Intervention · doi:10.1177/1053815109331858 · Cited by 106
Binkley, T. L., & SPECKER, B. L. (2004) · Bone · doi:10.1016/j.bone.2004.08.012 · Cited by 101
Eliakim, A., Nemet, D., Balakirski, Y., & Epstein, Y. (2007) · Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1515/jpem.2007.20.6.711 · Cited by 100
Story, M. T., Hannan, P. J., Fulkerson, J. A., Rock, B. H., Smyth, M. H., Arcan, C., & Himes, J. H. (2012) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2012.89 · Cited by 90
Effects of Locomotor Skill Program on Minority Preschoolers’ Physical Activity Levels
Alhassan, S., Nwaokelemeh, O., Ghazarian, M., Roberts, J., Mendoza, A., & Shitole, S. G. (2012) · Pediatric Exercise Science · doi:10.1123/pes.24.3.435 · Cited by 87
Sustained impact of community-based physical activity interventions: key elements for success
Haggis, C., Sims‐Gould, J., Winters, M., Gutteridge, K., & McKay, H. A. (2013) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-892 · Cited by 82
Community wide interventions for increasing physical activity
Baker, P., Francis, D. P., Soares, J., Weightman, A. L., & Foster, C. E. (2011) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd008366.pub2 · Cited by 82
Winter, S. M., & Sass, D. A. (2011) · Journal of Research in Childhood Education · doi:10.1080/02568543.2011.580211 · Cited by 81
Annesi, J. J., Smith, A. E., & Tennant, G. A. (2013) · Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health · doi:10.1111/jpc.12082 · Cited by 73
Pagels, P., Boldemann, C., & Raustorp, A. (2010) · Acta Paediatrica · doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2010.01962.x · Cited by 70
Effects of a Three-Year Intervention
Bugge, A., El-Naaman, B., Dencker, M., Froberg, K., Holme, I., McMurray, R. G., & Andersen, L. B. (2012) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e31824bd579 · Cited by 67
Chinese and German teachers' conceptions of play and learning and children's play behaviour
Wu, S.-C., & Rao, N. (2011) · European Early Childhood Education Research Journal · doi:10.1080/1350293x.2011.623511 · Cited by 63
Cauwenberghe, E. V., Bourdeaudhuij, I. D., Maes, L., & Cardon, G. (2012) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.07.014 · Cited by 60
Pilot-testing CATCH Early Childhood
Sharma, S. V., Chuang, R., & Hedberg, A. (2011) · American Journal of Health Education · doi:10.1080/19325037.2011.10599169 · Cited by 57
Parish, L. E., Rudisill, M. E., & Onge, P. S. (2007) · Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport · doi:10.1080/02701367.2007.10599414 · Cited by 49
Evaluation of a Redesigned Outdoor Space on Preschool Children’s Physical Activity During Recess
Niçaise, V., Kahan, D., Reuben, K., & Sallis, J. F. (2012) · Pediatric Exercise Science · doi:10.1123/pes.24.4.507 · Cited by 42
Alhassan, S., Nwaokelemeh, O., Lyden, K. A., Goldsby, T. U., & Mendoza, A. (2012) · Child Care in Practice · doi:10.1080/13575279.2012.712034 · Cited by 39
Physical activity guidelines for preschoolers: a call for research to inform public health policy
Skouteris, H., Dell’Aquila, D., Baur, L. A., Dwyer, G., McCabe, M. P., Ricciardelli, L. A., & Fuller‐Tyszkiewicz, M. (2012) · The Medical Journal of Australia · doi:10.5694/mja11.11015 · Cited by 38
Accelerometry to Assess Preschooler's Free-Play: Issues with Count Thresholds and Epoch Durations
Oliver, M., Schofield, G., & Schlüter, P. J. (2009) · Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science · doi:10.1080/13614530903260047 · Cited by 29
Physical Activity Patterns of Preschoolers during a Developmental Movement Program.
Benham-Deal, T. (1993) · Child study journal · Cited by 10
Cauwenberghe, E. V., Labarque, V., Trost, S. G., Bourdeaudhuij, I. D., & Cardon, G. (2010) · Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) · Cited by 5
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Lim, R. B. T., Wee, W. K., For, W. C., Ananthanarayanan, J. A., Soh, Y. H., Goh, L. M. L., Tham, D. K. T., & Wong, M. L. (2020) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-019-7969-5 · Cited by 605
Prestwich, A., Webb, T. L., & Conner, M. (2015) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.02.011 · Cited by 288
Wick, K., Leeger‐Aschmann, C. S., Monn, N. D., Radtke, T., Ott, L. V., Rebholz, C. E., Cruz, S. S., Gerber, N., Schmutz, E. A., Puder, J. J., et al. (2017) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-017-0723-1 · Cited by 312
Messing, S., Rütten, A., Abu-Omar, K., Ungerer-Röhrich, U., Goodwin, L., Burlacu, I., & Gediga, G. (2019) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2019.00055 · Cited by 259
Obesity prevention and obesogenic behavior interventions in child care: A systematic review
Sisson, S. B., Krampe, M., Anundson, K., & Castle, S. L. (2016) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.02.016 · Cited by 172
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
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
