Email this article 
Physical Activity Behavior Patterns during School Leisure Time in Children
Abstract
Optimizing physical activity (PA) in children is paramount to attenuate the incidence of chronic disease and to improve social and cognitive health. Limited research exists examining the observed PA patterns during school leisure times in children from the U.S. The purpose of this study was to examine the observed PA patterns of children during three school leisure times: before school, during lunch, and after school. The SOPLAY instrument was used to observe PA during the three leisure times across six weeks at four elementary schools in the U.S. Observer PA counts were stratified by sex, PA intensity (sedentary, walking, and very active), and leisure time. Multi-level models were employed to examine the effect of leisure time and PA intensity on observer PA counts, adjusting for day and school-level clustering. Lunch displayed the greatest number of counts for sedentary, walking, and very active PA intensities (p < 0.001). In boys, a greater number of observer counts in the very active PA intensity were recorded compared to the sedentary intensity before school (β = 10.34, p = 0.04) and during lunch (β = 15.57, p < 0.001). Girls did not display any differences among the PA intensities within before school and lunch leisure times (p > 0.05). After school displayed the fewest counts for walking and very active PA in both sexes (p < 0.05). An emphasis should be placed on increasing walking and very active PA intensities before school and during lunch in girls and after school in both sexes.
Keywords: after school, before school, lunch, SOPLAY, systematic observation
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Armstrong, N., Tomkinson, G., & Ekelund, U. (2011). Aerobic fitness and its relationship to sport, exercise training and habitual physical activity during youth. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 45, 849−58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2011-090200
Beets, M. W., Huberly, J., & Beighle, A. (2012). Physical activity of children attending after school programs. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 42, 180−184. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2011.10.007
Beighle, A., Morgan, C. F., LeMasurier, G., & Pangrazi, R. P. (2006). Children’s physical activity during recess and outside of school. Journal of School Health, 76, 516−520. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00151.x
Blair, S. N., Kohl, H. W., Barlow, C. E., Paffenbarger, R. S., Gibbons, L. W., & Macera, C. A. (1995). Changes in physical fitness and all-cause mortality: a prospective study of healthy and unhealthy men. Journal of the American Medical Association, 273, 1093−1098. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1995.03520380029031
Boddy, L. M., Murphy, M. H., Cunningham, C., Breslin, G., Gobbi, R., Graves, L. E., … Stratton, G. (2014). Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and clustered cardio-metabolic risk in 10- to 12-year-old school children: The REACH Y6 study. American Journal of Human Biology, 26, 446−451. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.22537
Brusseau, T. A., Kulinna, P. H., Tudor-Locke, C., Ferry, M., Van Der Mars, H., & Darst, P. W. (2011). Pedometer determined segmented physical activity patterns of fourth and fifth grade children. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 8, 279−286.
Brusseau, T. A., Kulinna, P. H., Tudor-Locke, C., & Ferry, M. (2013). Daily physical activity patterns of children living in an American Indian community. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 10, 48−53.
Brusseau, T. A. (2015). The Intricacies of Children’s Physical Activity. Journal of Human Kinetics, 47, 269−275.
Budde, H., Voelcker-Rehage, C., Pietraßyk-Kendziorra, S., Ribeiro, P., & Tidow, G. (2008). Acute coordinative e xercise improves attentional performance in adolescents. Neuroscience Letters, 441, 219–223. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2008.06.024
Burns, R. D., Brusseau, T. A, & Hannon, J. C. (2015). Prediction of optimal daily step count achievement from segmented school physical activity. Advances in Public Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/496248
Castelli, D. M., Hillman, C. H., Buck, S. M, & Erwin, H. E. (2007). Physical fitness and academic achievement in third and fifth grade students. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 29, 239–252.
Center on Educational Policy (2008). Instructional Time in Elementary Schools: A Closer Look at Changes for Specific Subjects. Washington, DC: Center on Educational Policy.
Fairclough, S. J., Beighle, A., Erwin, H., & Ridgers, N. D. (2012). School day segmented physical activity patterns of high and low active children. BMC Public Health, 12, 406. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-406
Farley, T. A., Meriwether, R. A., Baker, E. T., Rice, J. C., & Webber, L. S. (2008). Where do children play? The influence of playground equipment on physical activity of children in free play. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 5, 319−331.
Fernandes, M., & Sturm, R. (2011). The role of school physical activity programs in child body mass trajectory. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 8, 174−181.
Gao, Z., Oh, H., & Sheng, H. (2011). Middle school students’ body mass index and physical activity levels in physical education. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 82, 145−150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2011.10599732
Gao, Y., Wang, J. J., Lau, P. W., & Ransdell, L. (2015). Pedometer-determined physical activity patterns in a segmented school day among Hong Kong primary school children. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 13, 42-48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesf.2015.03.002
Gubbles, J. S., Van Kann, D. H. H., & Jansen, M. W. J. (2012). Play equipment physical activity opportunities, and children’s activity levels at childcare. Journal of Environmental and Public Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/326520
Hannon, J. C. (2008). Physical activity levels of overweight and non-overweight high school students during physical education classes. Journal of School Health, 78, 420−431. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2008.00325.x
Harrison, P. A., & Narayan, G. (2003). Differences in behavior, psychological factors, and environmental factors associated with participation in school sports and other activities in adolescence. Journal of School Health, 73, 113–120. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2003.tb03585.x
Howe, C. A., Freedson, P. S., Alhassan, S., Feldman, H. A., & Osganian, S. K. (2011). A recess intervention to promote moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Pediatric Obesity, 7, 82−88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2047-6310.2011.00007.x
Lee, S. M., Burgeson, C. R., Fulton, J. E., & Spain, C. G. (2007). Physical education and physical activity: results from the School Health Policies and Programs Study. Journal of School Health, 77, 435−463. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2007.00229.x
Mahar, M. T., Murphy, S. K., Rowe, D. A., Golden, J., Shields, A. T, & Raedeke, T. D. (2006). Effects of a classroom-based program on physical activity and on-task behavior. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38, 2086–2094. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000235359.16685.a3
McKenzie, T. L., Crespo, N. C., Baquero, B., & Elder, J. P. (2010). Leisure-time physical activity in elementary schools: analysis of contextual conditions. Journal of School Health, 80, 470−477.http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00530.x
McKenzie, T. L., Marshall, S. J., Sallis, J. F., & Conway, T. L. (2000). Leisure-time physical activity in school environments: an observational study using SOPLAY. Preventive Medicine, 30, 70−77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/pmed.1999.0591
McNaughten, D., & Gabbard, C. (1993). Physical exertion and immediate mental performance of sixth-grade children. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 77, 1155–1159. http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/pms.1993.77.3f.1155
Molloy, G. N. (1989). Chemicals, exercise and hyperactivity: A short report. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 36, 57−61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0156655890360106
Mota, J., Silva, P., Santos, M. P., Ribeiro, J. C., Oliveira, J., & Duarte, J. A. (2005). Physical activity and school recess time: Differences between the sexes and the relationship between children’s playground physical activity and habitual physical activity. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23, 269−275.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640410410001730124
Mota, J., Suva, P., Santos, M. P., Ribeiro, J. C., Oliverira, J., & Duarte, J. A. (2005). Physical activity and school recess time: differences between the sexes and the relationship between children’s playground physical activity and habitual physical activity. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23, 269−275. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640410410001730124
Parsad, B., & Lewis, L. (2009). After-School Programs in Public Elementary Schools. (NCES 2009–043). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC.
Ridgers, N. D., Stratton, G., & McKenzie, T. L. (2010). Reliability and validity of the System for Observing Children’s Activity and Relationships during Play (SOCARP). Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 5, 17−25.
Ridgers, N. D., Stratton, G., Fairclough, S. J., & Twisk, J. W. (2007). Long-term effects of a playground markings and physical structures on children’s recess physical activity levels. Preventive Medicine, 44, 393−397. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.01.009
Ridgers, N. D, Stratton, G., & Fairclough, S. J. (2006). Physical activity levels of children during school playtime. Sports Medicine, 36, 359−371.http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200636040-00005
Rowe, P. J., Schuldheisz, J. M., & van der Mars, H. (1997). Measuring physical activity in physical education: validation of the SOFIT direct observation instrument for use with first to eighth grade students. Pediatric Exercise Science, 9, 136–49.
Saint-Maurice, P. F., Welk, G., Ihmels, M. A., & Krapfl, J. R. (2011). Validation of the SOPLAY tool with an accelerometry-based physical activity monitor. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 8, 1108−1116.
Sarkin, J. A., McKenzie, T. L., & Sallis, J. F. (1997). Gender differences in physical activity during fifth-grade physical education and recess periods. Journal of Teaching Physical Education, 17, 99−106.
Scruggs, P. W., Beveridge, S. K., & Watson, D. L. (2003). Increasing children’s school time physical activity using structured fitness breaks. Pediatric Exercise Science, 15, 156−169.
Shephard, R. J. (1997). Curricular physical activity and academic performance. Pediatric Exercise Science, 9, 113–126. Stellino, M. B., Sinclair, C. D., Partridge, J. A., & King, K. M. (2009). Differences in children’s recess physical activity: recess activity of the week intervention. Journal of School Health, 80, 436−444. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00525.x
Stewart, J. A., Dennison, D. A., Kohl, H. W., & Doyle, A. J. (2004). Exercise level and energy expenditure in the TAKE 10! in-class physical activity program. Journal of School Health, 74, 397–400. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2004.tb06605.x
Taras, H. (2005). Physical activity and student performance at school. Journal of School Health, 75, 214–218. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2005.00026.x
Troiano, R. P., Berrigan, D., Dodd, K. W., Masse, L. C., Tilert, T., & McDowell, M. (2008). Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 40, 181−188. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e31815a51b3
Trost, S. G., Rosenkranz, R. R., & Dzewaltowski, D. (2008). Physical activity levels among children attending after-school programs. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 40, 622−629. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e318161eaa5
Trudeau, F., & Shephard, R. J. (2010). Relationships of physical activity to brain health and the academic performance of school children. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 4, 138–150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1559827609351133
Tudor-Locke, C., Lee, S. M., Morgan, C. F., Beighle, A., & Pangrazi, R. P. (2006). Children’s pedometer-determined physical activity during the segmented school day. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38, 1732−1738. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000230212.55119.98
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2008). 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
2013-2024 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD.
International Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Science
You may require to add the 'aiac.org.au' domain to your e-mail 'safe list’ If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox'. Otherwise, you may check your 'Spam mail' or 'junk mail' folders.