Prevalence and social-ecological correlates of parents’ adherence to the 24-hour movement guidelines for adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A national cross-sectional survey in Canada

Canadian adults are at high risk of chronic diseases from physical inactivity, excessive sedentary behaviour, and poor sleep. Understanding the socio‑ecological correlates of these behaviours is essential for informing public health interventions. This study examined socio‑ecological correlates of adherence to the Canadian 24‑Hour Movement Guidelines among parents during the second wave of the COVID‑19 pandemic (December 2020). We used baseline data from an online longitudinal survey investigating Canadian parents' adherence to 24-hour movement behaviours guidelines. Each guideline was dichotomized as met vs. not met for multivariable binary logistic regression models identifying correlates of adherence to sleep, sedentary behaviour, physical activity, and the integrated guidelines (p<0.05). Only 92 (4.0%) of the 2,278 participants (64.6% women; 41.14±7.38 years) met the integrated guidelines. Active travel to work (OR=3.92, p=0.002) compared with working from home or being unemployed increased the odds of meeting the integrated guidelines. While living in the Prairies (OR=0.35, p=0.030), Ontario (OR=0.32, p=0.010), or Quebec (OR=0.26, p=0.004) relative to the Atlantic region, and having one additional adult in the household (OR=0.55, p=0.007), decreased the odds. Participants from households with a COVID‑19 diagnosis or isolation were more likely to meet physical activity but not sleep guidelines. Vehicle ownership and COVID-19-related concerns were not significantly associated with adherence. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions that promote active commuting and expand employment opportunities. Policymakers and practitioners should prioritize measures to support active travel that are sensitive to the needs of parents and families.