EVALUATING MULTI-COMPONENT BEHAVIOURAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN OLDER CHILDREN

Abstract

There exists a clear gap in information on the lifestyles of children of primary school age in Singapore, a crucial period where children begin to gain autonomy over their health behaviours and form lifelong habits. To bridge this gap, I examined the validity of a web-based lifestyle assessment tool, My E-Diary for Activities and Lifestyle (MEDAL), developed for children in Singapore. I then utilised data collected using MEDAL to characterise the lifestyle patterns of children aged 10 years and identified at-risk groups and contexts that should be prioritised in future public health interventions. Finally, I evaluated the associations between children’s 24-hour time-use and their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) to explain relationships between children’s movement behaviours and their self-perceived well-being and functioning. These findings provide insight into behaviours that should be targeted as we shift away from being disease-free towards optimal physiological and psychosocial well-being.