Comparison of 9th grade students’ physical activity levels during recess and regular class periods using objective measurement

Rolf Kretschmann

doi:10.15561/18189172.2016.0409

Authors

Rolf Kretschmann TU Dortmund University http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3272-9213

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15561/18189172.2016.0409

Keywords:

recess breaks, physical activity, physical activity level, secondary school students

Abstract

Purpose: to assess and compare secondary school students’ physical activity levels during recess and regular class periods using objective measurement. Material: The study sample consisted of 26 9th grade school students (M = 15.28 years, SD = 0.47) of a German secondary school. They wore the Actiheart the whole school day for one week. All students followed the same school schedule and participated in the same classes. 9th grade school students’ physical activity levels during recess and regular class periods were assessed using the physical activity monitoring device Actiheart, which validly and objectively measures physical activity. Results: total recess time physical activity levels accounted for M = 2.38 METs, whereas total class period time physical activity levels only reached M = 1.58 METs. This difference could be proven statistically significant. Conclusions: Total recess time accounts for significantly higher physical activity levels compared to total class period time and the overall time students spend in school, respectively.

Author Biography

Rolf Kretschmann, TU Dortmund University

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3272-9213

References

1. Stratton G, Fairclough SJ, Ridgers N. Physical activity levels during the school day. In: Smith AL, Biddle SJH, editors. Youth Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Challenges and Solutions. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2008. p. 321-350.

2. Trudeau F, Shephard RJ. Contribution of School Programmes to Physical Activity Levels and Attitudes in Children and Adults. Sports Medicine. 2005;35(2):89-105.

3. Slingerland M, Borghouts L. Direct and Indirect Influence of Physical Education-Based Interventions on Physical Activity: A Review. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2011;8(6):866-78.

4. Bradley VR, O’Connor JP. The Development of a Resource for Physically Active School Settings. ACHPER Australia Healthy Lifestyles Journal. 2009;56(2):11-16.

5. Barros RM, Silver EJ, Stein REK. School Recess and Group Classroom Behavior. Pediatrics. 2009;123(2):431-436.

6. Pellegrini AD, Huberty PD, Jones I. The Effects of Recess Timing on Children’s Playground and Classroom Behaviors. American Educational Research Journal. 1995;32(4):845-64.

7. Ridgers ND, Stratton G, Fairclough SJ. Physical Activity Levels of Children during School Playtime. Sports Medicine. 2006;36(4):359-371.

8. Beighle A. Increasing Physical Activity through Recess. Research Brief. San Diego, CA: Active Living Research. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; 2012.

9. Ridgers ND, Saint-Maurice PF, Welk GJ, Siahpush M, Huberty J. Differences in Physical Activity during School Recess. Journal of School Health. 2011;82(9):545-551.

10. Escalante Y, García-Hermoso A, Backx K, Saavedra JM. Playground Designs to Increase Physical Activity Levels during School Recess: A Systematic Review. Health Education & Behavior. 2014;41(2):138-144.

11. Hayes LB, Van Camp CM. Increasing Physical Activity of Children during School Recess. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. 2015;48(3):690-695.

12. Crouter SE, Churilla JR, Bassett DR. Accuracy of the Actiheart for the assessment of energy expenditure in adults. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2008;62(6):704-711.

13. Butte NF, Wong WW, Adolph AL, Puyau MR, Vohra FA, Zakeri IF. Validation of Cross-Sectional Time Series and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines Models for the Prediction of Energy Expenditure in Children and Adolescents Using Doubly Labeled Water. Journal of Nutrition. 2010;140(8):1516-1523.

14. Corder K, Brage S, Wareham NJ, Ekelund U. Comparison of PAEE from combined and separate heart rate and movement models in children. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2007;37(10):1761-1767.

15. Slingerland M, Oomen J, Borghouts L. Physical activity levels during Dutch primary and secondary school physical education. European Journal of Sport Science. 2011;11(4):249-257.

16. Kretschmann R. Objective Measurement of Physical Activity Levels in Everyday Physical Education. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 2014;85(Supplement 1):A-143.

17. Kretschmann R. Physical Activity Levels during the School Day - Findings from a German Sample. Research in Kinesiology. 2014;42(2):188-190.

18. Crawlea MB. Validation of the sensewear hr armband for measuring heart rate and energy expenditure: Pennsylvania State University; 2003.

19. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Herrmann SD, Meckes N, Bassett Jr DR, Tudor-Locke C, et al. Compendium of Physical Activities: a second update of codes and MET values. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2011;43(8):1575-1581.

20. Nelms MN, Scher KP, Lacey K, Long Roth S. Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology. Belmont, CA: Thomson; 2010.

21. Brusseau TA, Hannon JC. Impacting Children’s Health and Academic Performance through Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programming. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education. 2015;7(3):441-450.

22. Haapala HL, Hirvensalo MH, Laine K, Laakso L, Hakonen H, Lintunen T, et al. Adolescents’ Physical Activity at Recess and Actions to Promote a Physically Active School Day in Four Finnish Schools. Health Education Research. 2014;29(5):840-852.

23. Woods AM, Graber KC, Daum DN. Children’s Recess Physical Activity: Movement Patterns and Preferences. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. 2012;31(2):146-162.

24. Stellino MB, Sinclair CD, Partridge JA, King KM. Differences in Children’s Recess Physical Activity: Recess Activity of the Week Intervention. Journal of School Health. 2010;80(9):436-444.