Background: Societal changes during the COVID-19 pandemic may affect children’s health behaviors and exacerbate disparities. This study aimed to describe children’s health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, how they vary by sociodemographic characteristics, and the extent to which parent coping strategies mitigate the impact of pandemic-related financial strain on these behaviors.
Methods: This study used pooled data from 50 cohorts in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Program. Children or parent proxies reported sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and parent coping strategies.
Results: Of 3,315 children aged 3-17 years, 49% were female and 57% were non-Hispanic White. Children of parents who reported food access as a source of stress were 35% less likely to engage in a higher level of physical activity and 70% more likely to consume a higher level of sugar-sweetened beverages. Children of parents who changed their work schedule to care for their children had 82 fewer minutes/day of screen time and 13 more minutes/day of sleep compared with children of parents who maintained their schedule.
Conclusions: Parents experiencing pandemic-related financial strain may need additional support to promote healthy behaviors. Understanding how changes in parent work schedules support shorter screen time and longer sleep duration can inform future interventions