Post-Pandemic Trends of 24-Hour Movement Behaviours and Mental Health Outcomes in Youth

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted youth movement behaviours and mental health, but evidence on post-pandemic trends remains limited. Therefore, this study examined differences in compliance with the 24-hour movement behaviour guidelines and their association with mental health outcomes among Portuguese children and adolescents between 2022 and 2024.

Methods

This repeated cross-sectional study included two independent samples of Portuguese children and adolescents from the 2022 and 2024 waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (2022: n = 2775; 2024: n = 2381). The 24-hour movement behaviours (physical activity, sleep and screen time) and mental health outcomes, assessed by Depression Anxiety Stress Scales—21 (DASS-21), were self-reported. Prevalences of attaining the 24-hour movement guidelines and DASS-21 categories were calculated and compared between 2022 and 2024 using chi-square tests. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between movement behaviour compliance and mental health outcomes.