Promoting Physical Activity in the School Setting

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Pediatric Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 12517

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Special Didactics, Faculty of Education and Sport Science, University of Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira s/n, E-36005 Pontevedra, Spain
Interests: physical activity and health

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Guest Editor
Well-Move Research Group, Faculty of Education and Sport Science, Department of Special Didactics, University of Vigo, 36004 Pontevedra, Spain
Interests: exercise; physical and intellectual disabilities
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sedentary lifestyles among the child/youth population is a critical issue today. Despite the strong evidence of the benefits of physical activity in this population, a very high percentage of children and adolescents do not reach the minimum daily recommendations. This translates into an increase in overweight and obesity figures and, consequently, health risk.

Schools are an ideal environment in which to enact preventative action due to the large amount of time spent on sedentary activities. Therefore, it is of vital importance to implement effective policies and programs that focus on increasing the level of physical activity in this population.

This Special Issue of Children aims to gather scientific evidence on interventions that aim to assess, promote or improve the performance of physical activity in the school context.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Silvia Varela Martínez
Dr. Carlos Ayán
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • school
  • physical activity
  • physical activity evaluation
  • intervention
  • school sports
  • recess
  • energy expediture

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 280 KiB  
Article
Preschoolers’ Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Measured by a Tri-Axial Accelerometer: Compliance with International Guidelines and Different Cut-Points
by Aristides M. Machado-Rodrigues, Thales P. Rodrigues da Silva, Larissa L. Mendes, António Stabelini Neto, Helena Nogueira, Daniela Rodrigues and Cristina Padez
Children 2024, 11(11), 1296; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11111296 - 26 Oct 2024
Viewed by 439
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the most frequently used accelerometer CoPs on the quantification of active preschoolers by weekday; and to analyze children’s physical activity (PA) quantification using a vertical axis and vector magnitude (VM). Methods: A [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the most frequently used accelerometer CoPs on the quantification of active preschoolers by weekday; and to analyze children’s physical activity (PA) quantification using a vertical axis and vector magnitude (VM). Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 134 children (70 males) aged 3–5 years was studied. Height, body weight, and BMI were assessed. A tri-axial accelerometer was used for seven consecutive days of MVPA and sedentary behavior (SB). Data were analyzed using the three most used CoPs for active preschooler classification (Johansson, Butte, and Pate). A general linear model with repeated measures examined differences in PA and SB, and the agreements of all CoPs were analyzed using the Kappa index. Results: The CoPs adopted by Pate had the highest percentage of children classified as active for the weekdays (73.9%) and weekend (85.6%). The Johansson CoP classified all children as inactive. Furthermore, the prevalence of active boys was significantly higher than their female counterparts based on the Pate and Butte CoPs for the week and weekends. Conclusions: The lowest prevalence rates of active children were observed at the weekend based on all accelerometer CoPs, especially among girls. The choice of cut-points significantly affects the times calculated for different movement intensities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Physical Activity in the School Setting)
9 pages, 279 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Physical Activity Levels and Academic Performance in Adolescents from Serbia
by Tamara Ilić, Stefan Stojanović, Doroteja Rančić, Bojan Milenko Jorgić, Rareș Stănescu Cristian, Daniel Andrei Iordan, Codreanu Corneliu Mircea, Stoica Leonard and Ilie Onu
Children 2024, 11(10), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11101198 - 29 Sep 2024
Viewed by 703
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Today’s high school students often engage in sedentary behavior by choosing passive activities during leisure time. Increasing research shows that regular physical activity (PA) provides benefits beyond physical health, especially important during childhood and adolescence. Our study investigated the association between physical [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Today’s high school students often engage in sedentary behavior by choosing passive activities during leisure time. Increasing research shows that regular physical activity (PA) provides benefits beyond physical health, especially important during childhood and adolescence. Our study investigated the association between physical activity levels and academic performance (AP) in Serbian adolescents. Methods: We selected a sample of 836 fourth-grade high school students (avg. 17.9 ± 0.7 years old) who completed the IPAQ (short-version) and the Academic Performance Scale. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 21.0. Due to non-normal data distribution, Spearman’s correlation was used and hierarchical regression analysis to assess the association between PA and AP. Results: The findings revealed significant correlations between vigorous, moderate and light PA, as well as overall units of metabolic equivalent of task (METs), with AP (p-values: 0.000, 0.005, 0.021, 0.004, respectively), although with weak correlation coefficients (0.127, 0.098, 0.080, 0.181, respectively). Vigorous PA influenced AP by 10.1%, moderate PA by 8.2%, and light PA by 11.4%. Conclusions: These results suggest that adolescents engaging in higher PA levels tend to have better AP. This finding indicates a substantial association between PA levels and AP, with both moderate and vigorous PA showing a positive correlation and influence. Further investigation is necessary to comprehensively grasp the link between light PA and AP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Physical Activity in the School Setting)
14 pages, 297 KiB  
Article
Relationship of Social–Emotional Learning, Resilience, Psychological Well-Being, and Depressive Symptoms with Physical Activity in School-Aged Children
by Evan Belaire, Fawzi Mualla, Lucas Ball, Iris Ma, Debra Berkey and Weiyun Chen
Children 2024, 11(8), 1032; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11081032 - 22 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1012
Abstract
Background: This study investigated the association of psychological well-being (PWB), resilience, depressive symptoms, and social–emotional learning (SEL) with physical activity (PA) in school-aged children. The objective was to understand how these psychosocial factors influence PA levels and identify gender-specific differences in these relationships. [...] Read more.
Background: This study investigated the association of psychological well-being (PWB), resilience, depressive symptoms, and social–emotional learning (SEL) with physical activity (PA) in school-aged children. The objective was to understand how these psychosocial factors influence PA levels and identify gender-specific differences in these relationships. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 534 fourth grade and sixth grade students from eight schools in the Midwest region of the United States, with data collected through a Qualtrics survey. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the data, with gender-specific analyses conducted to identify differences between boys and girls. Results: The models indicated that all psychosocial factors taken together are significantly associated with PA (F = 26.937, p < 0.001). Of the factors, PWB and resilience were associated with higher PA individually for the total sample (β = 0.383, p = 0.001; β = 0.146, p = 0.005). A gender-specific analysis revealed that all factors collectively were significantly associated with PA in boys and girls (F = 15.846, p < 0.001; F = 6.869, p < 0.001). Individually, PWB and resilience were significantly associated with PA in boys (β = 0.358, p = 0.001; β = 0.171, p = 0.013), while only PWB was significantly associated with PA in girls (β = −0.355, p = 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the necessity of promoting resilience and psychological well-being through structured physical activities, aiming to reduce the risk of obesity and improve mental health among children. Future research should consider longitudinal designs and objective measures to further elucidate these relationships and inform effective educational strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Physical Activity in the School Setting)
12 pages, 288 KiB  
Article
Influence of Body Mass Index, Physical Fitness, and Physical Activity on Energy Expenditure during Recess
by Carlos Ayán-Pérez, Daniel González-Devesa, José Carlos Diz-Gómez and Silvia Varela
Children 2024, 11(1), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11010125 - 18 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1599
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the potential relationship between energy expenditure, physical fitness level, physical activity, and body mass index among children taking part in a 30 min school recess. A total of 259 participants from three schools were included in this study. [...] Read more.
This study aims to investigate the potential relationship between energy expenditure, physical fitness level, physical activity, and body mass index among children taking part in a 30 min school recess. A total of 259 participants from three schools were included in this study. Data on energy expenditure during recess, age, gender, anthropometric measurements, global physical fitness, and physical activity index were recorded. The evaluation sessions occurred twice a week on alternate days over two weeks. A significant gender difference was observed in energy expenditure during recess, favoring boys (p < 0.01). The participants classified as very active exhibited significantly higher scores compared to those categorized as sedentary and moderately active, respectively (p < 0.01), with a poor but significant correlation (rho: 0.208; p < 0.001). There were significant differences between energy expenditure and cardiorespiratory fitness and energy expenditure and global physical fitness (p < 0.01) with fair (rho: 0.289; p < 0.001) and poor (rho: 0.196, p = 0.001) correlation, respectively. In contrast, there were no significant differences by body mass index categories (p = 0.571). These results suggest that gender, physical activity index, and global physical fitness were found to influence energy expenditure during a 30 min recess. However, no significant relationships were found with the body mass index. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Physical Activity in the School Setting)
23 pages, 1432 KiB  
Article
Assessing Obesogenic School Environments in Sibiu County, Romania: Adapting the ISCOLE School Environment Questionnaire
by Mihai Octavian Negrea, Gabriel Octavian Negrea, Gabriela Săndulescu, Bogdan Neamtu, Raluca Maria Costea, Minodora Teodoru, Călin Remus Cipăian, Adelaida Solomon, Mirela Livia Popa and Carmen Daniela Domnariu
Children 2023, 10(11), 1746; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10111746 - 27 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1303
Abstract
The impact of the school environment on childhood weight status has garnered significant attention in recent years. This study aimed to adapt and validate the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) School and Environment questionnaire in order to assess [...] Read more.
The impact of the school environment on childhood weight status has garnered significant attention in recent years. This study aimed to adapt and validate the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) School and Environment questionnaire in order to assess the potential obesogenic impact of school environments in Sibiu County, Romania. The ISCOLE questionnaire was chosen for its rigorous methodology. It was derived from a comprehensive study conducted across 12 countries which aimed to capture multifaceted influences on childhood weight while emphasizing educational settings in the collection of data. To guide the translation and adaptation of the questionnaire, a multidisciplinary committee was assembled which comprised experts in teaching and school administration to ensure target responder relevance, experts in clinical research to ensure methodological robustness, experts in language adaptation to preserve the original intent of the survey, and experts in public health to steer the interpretation of the results, with potential policy implications. The data were analyzed by distinguishing between urban and rural settings, and a two-step cluster analysis was implemented to identify potential intervention targets. To assess the validity of the adapted tool, the questionnaire’s construct validity and internal consistency were explored. A response rate of 71.2% of the approached schools in Sibiu County was achieved. Of the 84 responding school representatives, 37 (44%) were from a rural setting. The rural schools had significantly more limited access to gymnasiums, secured lockers, showers, and bicycle racks, and exhibited more serious problems regarding the inadequate disposal of garbage in the school vicinity. A two-step cluster analysis revealed distinct school categories, providing opportunities for public policy interventions. One of these primarily concerned rural schools with limited infrastructure but with proactive practices and policies which were termed “unable but willing”; on the opposing spectrum, the category “able but unwilling” mainly comprised urban schools which had available facilities but lacked local proactive initiatives. The findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted measures to bridge these discrepancies by investing in infrastructure in rural schools and promoting active school practices and policies in urban settings. The assessment of obesogenic school environments in Sibiu County provides a pilot model for broader applications due to the diverse school landscape and supportive local authorities. The results, which were achieved using low-cost methods, can guide future educational policies, health promotion initiatives, and preventive interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Physical Activity in the School Setting)
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15 pages, 461 KiB  
Article
Students’ Perspectives on School Sports Trips in the Context of Participation and Democratic Education
by Christoph Kreinbucher-Bekerle and Julia Mikosch
Children 2023, 10(4), 709; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10040709 - 11 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1717
Abstract
School sports trips, as a part of extracurricular physical education (PE), are a very important addition to regular PE, with benefits for not only physical activity behavior, but also for personal development and social inclusion. To better understand the relevance for students, the [...] Read more.
School sports trips, as a part of extracurricular physical education (PE), are a very important addition to regular PE, with benefits for not only physical activity behavior, but also for personal development and social inclusion. To better understand the relevance for students, the aim of this study was to look at their perspectives on school sports trips in terms of involvement, active participation, and co-designing opportunities. Therefore, 14 group interviews with 47 students (age: M = 13.9; SD = 0.9 years) were held in three exemplary secondary schools in Austria. The following six topics were derived from a qualitative text analysis: (a) the relevance for the students, (b) the motives for (non-) participation, (c) positive experiences, (d) barriers and challenges, (e) desired changes and ideas of the students, and (f) feedback opportunities. The results indicate that students are highly motivated to put forward their ideas for designing school sports trips in terms of physical activity and social components. This can further be considered for the planning and implementation of extracurricular PE, to make this an enjoyable experience for both students and teachers, promoting the relevance of physical activity in schools and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Physical Activity in the School Setting)
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13 pages, 521 KiB  
Article
Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in High School Students: A Quasi Experimental Study via Smartphone during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Regina Márcia Ferreira Silva, Lauryane Fonseca Terra, Michele da Silva Valadão Fernandes, Priscilla Rayanne E. Silva Noll, Alexandre Aparecido de Almeida and Matias Noll
Children 2023, 10(3), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10030479 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3062
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether exposure to information about physical activity and its barriers can increase the level of physical activity and reduce the time exposed to sedentary behaviors in high school students involved in integrated professional and technological [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether exposure to information about physical activity and its barriers can increase the level of physical activity and reduce the time exposed to sedentary behaviors in high school students involved in integrated professional and technological education during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This quasi experimental study was conducted with integrated education high school students, divided into two groups: Intervention Group (IG; n = 59) and Control Group (CG; n = 54). Physical activity and sedentary behavior were identified and measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire pre-and post-intervention for both groups. IG students received educational material thrice a week for four weeks. The focus of the material was the importance of physical activity and need to reduce the time exposed to sedentary behavior. The results revealed that IG students showed an average daily reduction of 47.14 min in time exposed to sedentary behaviors, while the CG students showed an increase of 31.37 min. Despite this, the intervention was not effective in improving physical activity levels in the IG and the mean reduction in the time exposed to sedentary behavior was not significant (p = 0.556). The intervention was ineffective in increasing the practice of physical activity and reducing the time exposed to sedentary behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Physical Activity in the School Setting)
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10 pages, 442 KiB  
Article
The Joint Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors on Adiposity during Adolescence: The 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Cohort Study
by Soyang Kwon, Fernando C. Wehrmeister, Helen Gonçalves, Bruna Gonçalves C. da Silva and Ana M. B. Menezes
Children 2023, 10(2), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10020265 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1725
Abstract
A prior study conducted in high-income countries demonstrated that specific sedentary behavior, such as TV viewing, is prospectively associated with adiposity in both active and inactive adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine the joint associations of sedentary behaviors and moderate- [...] Read more.
A prior study conducted in high-income countries demonstrated that specific sedentary behavior, such as TV viewing, is prospectively associated with adiposity in both active and inactive adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine the joint associations of sedentary behaviors and moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) with adiposity among Brazilian adolescents. This prospective cohort study included 377 participants of the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Study who completed an accelerometry assessment at age 13 years and a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) assessment at age 18 years. Accelerometer-measured MVPA was dichotomized into high (≥60 min/day) and low (<60 min/day). Accelerometer-measured sedentary time (SED) was dichotomized into low (<49 min/h) and high (≥49 min/h) based on the median. Self-reported TV viewing time was also dichotomized into low (<3 h/day) and high (≥3 h/day) based on the median. We combined the two MVPA groups (high and low) and two SED groups (low and high) to form the four MVPA&SED groups: high&low, high&high, low&low, and low&high. We also created four MVPA&TV groups in the same manner. Fat mass index (FMI; kg/m2) was calculated using DXA-derived fat mass. Multivariable linear regression analyses compared FMI at 18 years among the four MVPA&SED groups and among the four MVPA&TV groups, adjusting for socioeconomic status, energy intake, and baseline adiposity. The analysis results showed that SED or TV viewing time was not prospectively associated with adiposity in both active and inactive Brazilian adolescents. This study suggests that the association between specific sedentary behaviors, such as TV viewing, and adiposity may differ across societal settings—in this case, high-income vs. middle-income countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Physical Activity in the School Setting)
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