Mitigation and Physical Activity Behaviors Among School-Aged Children During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic closed schools to in-person learning across the United States, resulting in unintended increases in sedentary behavior among children. Individual states maintained different mitigation policies, potentially affecting activity behaviors. This study examined student mitigation behavior and sedentary time during school in one Arizona and one California county once schools reopened. Methods: Physical distancing, mask wearing, and physical activity were observed during physical education, recess, and lunch using the Systematic Observation of COVID-19 Mitigation (SOCOM). Fisher's exact test was used to calculate differences by state, sex, and schools' Title I status (i.e., federal funding provided to schools with ≥ 40% of children served identified as low-income). Results: Mask wearing and physical distancing differed by state, sex, and Title I status. California students generally adhered to mitigation requirements at higher rates than Arizona students; however, California students were generally less active during recess and physical education than Arizona students. Differences in mitigation behaviors were also observed by Title I school status. Implications and Conclusions: California students exhibited stricter adherence to mitigation guidelines and were more sedentary. The relationship between mask mandates and students' behaviors varied between states, emphasizing the need for interventions, policies, and improved physical activity assessment based on local contexts.