title: Early childhood physical activity, sedentary behaviors and psychosocial well-being: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about how health behaviors such as physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors (SB) may be associated with psychosocial well-being during the crucial early childhood period. The aim of this study was to undertake a systematic review of associations between PA, SB and psychosocial well-being during early childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  In February 2013, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Embase electronic databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were: 1. peer-reviewed publication since 1980 in English; 2. children aged birth-5 years; 3. PA or SB measured during early childhood; 4. an indicator of child psychosocial well-being; and 5. association between PA/SB and psychosocial well-being reported. Studies could be observational or interventions. Data were extracted by one author and entered into a standardized form in February and March 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  19 studies were identified: four examined PA, 13 examined SB and two examined PA and SB. No interventions met the inclusion criteria; all included studies were observational. In total, 21 indicators of psychosocial well-being were examined, 13 only once with the remaining eight reported in more than one study. Some dose-response evidence was identified suggesting that PA is positively, and SB inversely, associated with psychosocial well-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Too few studies exist to draw conclusions regarding associations. Future high-quality cohort and intervention studies are warranted particularly investigating dose-response associations.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Australia. Electronic address: trina.hinkley@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Trina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hinkley
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teychenne
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Downing
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hesketh
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009043:Motor Activity; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D057185:Sedentary Behavior
keywords: Early childhood; Electronic screen use; Physical activity; Psychosocial well-being; Systematic review