Background: Childhood is an important period for developing maturity in thinking. Accumulating evidence shows the association between physical activity and cognitive function. Although both the intelligence quotient and emotional quotient have been reported to be associated with physical activity, there is a limited amount of published research regarding the association between physical activity and cognitive function in children and youths. With respect to creativity, an important skill for the twenty-first century, little evidence on the creative quotient promotion in childhood is available. The present study, therefore, is designed to explore the correlation between physical activity and creativity. Methods: The participants included 1447 students with different age groups in 34 schools from Southern Thailand. Age groups were categorized according to Thailand’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, where 521 students were aged 6–9 years, 487 students were aged 10–13 years, and 439 students were aged 14–17 years. Creativity was measured through the use of the Test for Creative Thinking-Drawing Production (TCT-DP). Active play, time with family and peers, and sedentary behavior were monitored by the Thailand Physical Activity Children Survey-the Student Questionnaire (TPACS-SQ). Results: The correlation between the TCT-DP score representing creativity and active play was noticed in adolescents (r = 0.148, p = 0.001), but not found in participants aged 6–13 years. Active play was associated with time with family and peers in all age groups (r = 0.485, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The present data supports the idea that optimal physical activity is required during childhood for developing thinking process. Promotion of active play with family and peers may facilitate creativity skills.

Smartphone addiction is increasing among university students. This study aims to explore the differences in screen time and physical activity among university students with and without smartphone addiction, considering their study majors and levels. One hundred and twenty participants from sixteen faculties were included, divided into three academic majors (health sciences, social sciences and humanities, and science and technology). Data were collected using a screen time behavior questionnaire and a screen time application. Physical activity was measured using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). This study demonstrated that the smartphone addiction group had higher screen time on both smartphones (p = 0.02) and other devices (p = 0.04). Students in the social sciences and humanities majors had insufficient physical activity according to WHO recommendations. The results showed no correlation between screen time and physical activity, study time, academic major, or study level (p ≥ 0.05). However, a low correlation was observed between physical activity and study time (r² = 0.27; p < 0.05), as well as study level (r² = −0.31; p < 0.05). Our findings show that the total screen time for university students with and without smartphone addiction exceeded 8 h per day. Real-life activities should be promoted to reduce screen time. Encouraging physical activity among senior students and those in social science and humanities majors is crucial for fostering healthy behaviors in the future. Physical education and recreational activities should be emphasized in these groups, along with the development of programs or class activities designed to promote physical activity and reduce screen time.

Internal and external factors can potentially affect physical activity in individual children and adolescents. Unfortunately, no study has been conducted to explore the association between these factors and physical activity among Thai children and adolescents who engage in physical activity following the guidelines set by the World Health Organization. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between three internal factors: knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy with two external factors: parental and environmental supports that encourage physical activity participation among children and adolescents. This study used a secondary data set from the Thailand Physical Activity Children Survey. This survey employed the use of questionnaires and face-to-face interviews for collecting information on physical activity participation. The participants included 2447 children aged 6–17 years. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were reported to reflect the strength of an association between internal and external factors and achieving the physical activity guidelines. The results showed that attitude toward physical activity and self-efficacy had an influence on achieving physical activity guidelines. The children and adolescents achieving physical activity guidelines had the confidence in themselves to do physical activity. They could spend their time doing physical activity after school, even in unfavorable conditions. Additionally, parental and environmental supports were necessary to encourage physical activity continuously. Furthermore, these results can be used for promoting a program to manage the factors related to physical activities and improve the levels of physical activity among children and adolescents

Background: The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund recommend that mothers continue breastfeeding for two years or longer, alongside appropriate complementary foods. However, there is limited evidence on the factors associated with continued breastfeeding in Thailand. This study aimed to identify the determinants of continued breastfeeding at one year and two years. Method: This study used secondary data from four rounds of the Thailand Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), conducted in 2012, 2015–2016, 2019, and 2022, by the National Statistical Office, with support from UNICEF. The analysis included 2,495 children aged 12–15 months and 2,503 children aged 20–23 months. Continued breastfeeding at one year and two years followed standard MICS definitions. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine associated factors. Results: Continued breastfeeding rates were higher at one year than at two years across all survey rounds. In 2022, 33% of children continued breastfeeding at one year and 20% at two years. At one year, continued breastfeeding was positively associated with residing in the North (AOR = 3.89, 95% CI: 1.31–11.59) or South (AOR = 4.92, 95% CI: 1.66–14.55) compared to Bangkok, receiving antenatal care from nurses or midwives (AOR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.38–4.30), having 5–12 ANC visits (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.13–5.61), and delivery at private health facilities (AOR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.12–5.90). The richest wealth quintile showed lower odds (AOR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.06–0.54) compared to the poorest. At two years, positive associations included normal vaginal delivery (AOR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.02–3.16) and absence of prelacteal feeds (AOR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.19–4.59), while lack of immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth was associated with lower odds (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.26–0.92). Conclusion: Healthcare service factors, particularly antenatal care quality and immediate postnatal practices, are key determinants of continued breastfeeding in Thailand. Strengthening breastfeeding support during antenatal care, promoting vaginal delivery when appropriate, and ensuring skin-to-skin contact and exclusive breastfeeding after birth may improve breastfeeding duration.