ABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the associations of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and screen time (ST) with emotional and behavioral problems in children and to provide evidence for related intervention measures.@*Methods@#In March 2017, a total of 4 922 children aged 6-12 years from 5 primary schools in Guangzhou were enrolled using stratified random cluster sampling method. Questionnaires were used to assess children s socio demographic information, MVPA, ST and emotional and behavioral problems. The associations of MVPA and ST with behavioral problems were explored by using generalized linear mixed models.@*Results@#Students with MVPA≥60 min per day accounted for 37.5%, and with ST≤2 h per day accounted for 87.7%. Children who were physically active showed lower scores for total difficulties, hyperactivity, and peer problems and higher score for prosocial than inactive peers( t =2.80, 2.47, 2.56, -1.97, all P <0.05). Also, children who spent less than 2 h ST per day reported lower scores for total difficulties, emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems and higher score for prosocial compared to those with high ST( t =3.18, 3.35, 3.70, 3.80, -3.21, 4.97, all P <0.05). Children who met neither MVPA nor ST recommendations had significantly increased risks of total difficulties( OR=1.73, 95%CI =1.12-2.68), conduct problems( OR=1.45, 95%CI =1.02-2.05), peer problems( OR=1.93, 95%CI =1.11-3.36), and prosocial ( OR=1.55, 95%CI =1.08-2.23) than those who met both.@*Conclusion@#MVPA and ST are independently related to children s emotional and behavioral problems, and the risks of emotional and behavioral problems increased in children with insufficient MVPA and longer ST.