Associations between 24-hour movement behavior profiles and mental health among Chinese school students: A latent profile analysis

Abstract

Background This study aimed to identify 24-h movement behavior profiles on weekdays (WDs) and weekends (WEs) among primary and secondary school students in China and investigate the associations of these profiles with mental health. Methods The study recruited 400 primary school students (mean age: 9.4 ± 1.9 years; 47.8% girls) and 819 secondary school students (mean age: 14.9 ± 1.4 years; 52.0% girls). Accelerometers were used to measure 24-h movement behavior, including sedentary behavior (SB), light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sleep. Mental health included depressive symptoms, internalizing/externalizing problems, working memory, and inhibition control. Latent profile analysis was used to identify 24-h movement behavior profiles. Results Three profiles were identified among primary school students: “consistently low SB/high MVPA/long sleep”, “consistently high LPA”, and “consistently high SB/low PA/short sleep”. The “consistently low SB/high MVPA/long sleep” and “consistently high LPA” groups had significantly lower depression levels, fewer internalized problems, better working memory, and better inhibition control than the other profiles. In secondary school students, “low MVPA (WDs) and low MVPA/high LPA (WEs)”, “consistently high SB/low LPA/short sleep”, “low SB/High LPA (WDs) and low SB/long sleep (WEs)”, and “high MVPA/long sleep (WDs) and high MVPA (WEs)” were identified. The “high MVPA/long sleep (WDs) and high MVPA (WEs)” group had significantly lower depression levels and fewer internalized problems than the “consistently high SB/low LPA/short sleep” group. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of promoting healthy 24-h movement behavior patterns. Mental health promotion strategies should aim to optimize 24-h movement behaviors (i.e., increasing MVPA, decreasing SB, and ensuring adequate sleep duration) or maintain high levels of LPA for primary school students. For secondary school students, they should focus on prioritizing ensuring adequate sleep and encouraging regular participation in MVPA.