Objectives. Little is known about how health behaviors such as physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors
(SB) may be associated with psychosocial well-being during the crucial early childhood period. The aim of this
study was to undertake a systematic review of associations between PA, SB and psychosocial well-being during
early childhood.
Methods. In February 2013, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Embase electronic databases were
searched. Inclusion criteria were: 1. peer-reviewed publication since 1980 in English; 2. children aged birth–
5 years; 3. PA or SB measured during early childhood; 4. an indicator of child psychosocial well-being; and 5. as-
sociation between PA/SB and psychosocial well-being reported. Studies could be observational or interventions.
Data were extracted by one author and entered into a standardized form in February and March 2013. Results. 19 studies were identified: four examined PA, 13 examined SB and two examined PA and SB. No
interventions met the inclusion criteria; all included studies were observational. In total, 21 indicators of psycho-
social well-being were examined, 13 only once with the remaining eight reported in more than one study. Some
dose–response evidence was identified suggesting that PA is positively, and SB inversely, associated with psycho-
social well-being