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The Effects of Physical Exercise on Children's Health in a School Context

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A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2022) | Viewed by 27496

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Prof. Dr. Daniel Almeida Marinho

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Guest Editor

Department of Sport Science, University of Beira-Interior (UBI/CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: training; evaluation; performance; biophysics; aquatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Henrique Pereira Neiva

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Guest Editor

Department of Sport Science, University of Beira-Interior (UBI/CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: strength and conditioning; health fitness and exercise; sports biomechanics; exercise physiology; resistance training; strength training; concurrent training; performance assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ricardo Manuel Pires Ferraz

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Guest Editor

Department of Sport Science, University of Beira-Interior (UBI/CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: exercise science; sports science; exercise performance; strength and conditioning; exercise testing, exercise intervention; physical education; football; motor skills; volleyball; psycophysiology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the years, the concept of health has changed. In the past, being healthy meant not having an illness. The concept has evolved to include mental, social, and physical well-being. It is known that the increase in sedentary lifestyles in the younger population threatens the development of children's motor skills and contributes to the prevalence of other pathologies. Furthermore, physical activity is associated with improvements in the physical condition, motor development, decreased levels of anxiety, increased feeling of well-being, as well as increased school performance. Consequently, there is growing interest in the effects and importance of physical exercise in young people. In this regard, the school is the perfect place to implement health promotion practices through physical education classes and extracurricular activities. Therefore, interdisciplinary knowledge about interventions in these contexts can help in the creation and development of lasting strategies for the promotion of physical activity and health. This Special Issue aims to present new insights regarding the effects of physical exercise in the school context and the potential benefits for children's health. Papers regarding methodological and instrumental innovations in physical education classes for these purposes will be highly appreciated.

Prof. Dr. Daniel Almeida Marinho
Dr. Henrique Pereira Neiva
Dr. Ricardo Manuel Pires Ferraz
Guest Editors

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Keywords

physical exercise
physical education
physical activity
health
cognition
school context
health promotion practices
elementary school
children
lifestyle
motor development

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Most Active Child Is Not Always the Fittest: Physical Activity and Fitness Are Weakly Correlated

by Corrado Lupo, Paolo De Pasquale, Gennaro Boccia, Alexandru Nicolae Ungureanu, Paolo Moisè, Anna Mulasso and Paolo Riccardo Brustio

Sports 2023, 11(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11010003 - 22 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2627

Abstract

The present cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the impact of physical activity level (PA) on physical fitness by controlling for individual characteristics in Italian children. A total of 329 children (girls n = 155, 42.6%; from five primary schools, 17 classes) aged 8–10 filled out the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) to assess their PA level and performed anthropometric measurements (body mass, height, and BMI) and physical tests for measuring sprint (20 m sprint), cardiorespiratory fitness (shuttle-run test), balance (single-leg stance), handgrip strength (handgrip), lower-limb power (standing long-jump), peak force (countermovement jump), and low-back flexibility (sit-and-reach) skills. Linear mixed-effects models were applied to determine the relationship between physical fitness and PAQ-C score controlling for individual characteristics (i.e., gender, age, BMI). Results reported significant relationships between PAQ-C scores and sit-and-reach, shuttle-run, long-jump, and sprint tests. All considered physical tests were correlated with gender, age, and BMI, except for sit-and-reach from BMI. The variance in age, gender, BMI, and PAQ-C score accounted altogether for 30.0% of the variance in handgrip, 23.0% in single-leg stance, 26% in sit-and-reach, 36% in shuttle-run, 31% in long-jump, 34% in sprint, and 31% in countermovement jump. Therefore, the relationship between PA and fitness is not absolute and depends on the test and children’s characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Physical Exercise on Children's Health in a School Context)

11 pages, 774 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Pablo Galan-Lopez, Thordis Gísladóttir, Maret Pihu, Antonio J. Sánchez-Oliver, Francis Ries and Raúl Domínguez

Sports 2022, 10(12), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10120188 - 22 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2660

Abstract

The benefits of physical fitness (PF) for health are well-known. Low PF significantly contributes to the prevalence of obesity in adolescents, with an increased risk of developing chronic diseases. The objectives of the present study were to explore the health-related PF components and body composition levels in adolescents in three European cities, and their differences. The present study is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative research effort with 1717 participants aged between 13–16 years (48% girls), enrolled in public and private secondary schools in Seville (Spain), Reykjavik (Iceland) and Tartu (Estonia). The ALPHA fitness battery test was used with the following tests: handgrip strength, standing broad jump, 4 × 10 m speed-agility, 20 m shuttle run, and anthropometric variables. Regarding body composition, differences were detected for city and gender in height (p < 0.001), weight (p < 0.001), body fat percentage (p < 0.001), and waist circumference (p < 0.001); but no differences were reported for BMI for both city (p = 0.150) and gender (p = 0.738). Similarly, concerning PF, it was detected statistically significant differences between cities and gender in handgrip strength (p < 0.001), jump test (p < 0.001), speed-agility test (p < 0.001), and cardiovascular endurance in both variables (p < 0.001). In total, 26.8% of the boys and 27.3% of the girls were categorized as overweight; 18.1% of the boys and 31.2% of the girls had an excessive percentage of fat mass; and 22.7% of the boys and 22.2% of the girls showed an excessive waist circumference. The participants from Seville presented the lowest results in PF tests. In contrast, Reykjavik, with the highest results in the endurance and speed-agility tests, and Tartu, with higher results in the manual grip strength and long jump tests, shared the highest results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Physical Exercise on Children's Health in a School Context)

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9 pages, 304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Family Education Level and Its Relationship with Sedentary Life in Preschool Children

by Inés Muñoz-Galiano, Jonathan D. Connor, Gema Díaz-Quesada and Gema Torres-Luque

Sports 2022, 10(11), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10110178 - 15 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1794

Abstract

Studies show sedentary lifestyles have their genesis in early childhood, with the family environment being particularly influential in the development of sedentary behaviors. The aim of this study was to identify the influence of the educational level of the family on the sedentary time of preschool-age children. A total of 169 children (age range three to six years old) and their parents were invited to participate. Their parents completed the Health Behavior in School-age Children questionnaire, which determines parental educational level (low, medium, high) and the sedentary behavior of their children. Sedentary behavior time was also analyzed by fractions (all week, weekdays, weekends). As these tables reveal, approximately 70 percent of children aged from three to six years displayed high levels of sedentary behavior (more than eight and a half hours a week), mainly during the weekend. Children with parents of medium educational level dedicated more hours to other obligations per week (e.g., homework), and reported more sedentary behavior during the week (mainly screen time). Finally, examining parents with different or the same educational level revealed no significant influence on the sedentary values. The results of this study will help further identify risk factors in certain population groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Physical Exercise on Children's Health in a School Context)

14 pages, 1147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Acute Effects of the Daily Mile™ vs. Shuttle Runs on Children’s Cognitive and Affective Responses

by Ricardo M. G. Martins, Michael J. Duncan, Cain C. T. Clark and Emma L. J. Eyre

Sports 2022, 10(10), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10100142 - 22 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2420

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the acute effects of two physical activity (PA) bouts on children’s cognitive and affective responses. Methods: Twenty-nine participants (16 boys and 13 girls; M_age = 9.34 years, SD = 0.48), using a within-subjects crossover design, performed three 15-min conditions: (a) TDM—The Daily Mile™; (b) 12 repeated 30–45-s shuttle runs at ≥ 85% HR_MAX; and (c) a sedentary control condition. Cognitive performance (i.e., Stroop, Digit Span, and Corsi blocks) was measured before PA and 1 and 30 min post-PA. Felt Arousal and Feeling Scale self-report scales were administered before, during, and after PA. Results: The results show no changes following the TDM condition relative to the sedentary control condition in cognitive responses. However, when comparing the shuttle runs condition to the sedentary control condition, participants showed higher arousal, an improved reaction time, and lower self-reported pleasure at 1 min post-PA. Nevertheless, at 30 min post-PA, participants’ pleasure values were higher in the shuttle runs condition than they were before PA. Conclusions: When comparing PA conditions, shuttle runs enhanced reaction time and might thus be seen as an option to implement or modify PA opportunities in school settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Physical Exercise on Children's Health in a School Context)

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11 pages, 490 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Cut-Off Value for Classifying Active Italian Children Using the Corresponding National Version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire

by Corrado Lupo, Gennaro Boccia, Alexandru Nicolae Ungureanu, Anna Mulasso, Paolo De Pasquale, Annamaria Mancini, Pasqualina Buono, Alberto Rainoldi and Paolo Riccardo Brustio

Sports 2022, 10(4), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10040061 - 14 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3215

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine a cut-off value following the filling in of a questionnaire (PAQ-C-It) to identify active Italian children. One-hundred-twenty-nine primary school children (5 Piedmont schools; 47.3% female; mean age = 10 ± 1 years) wore an accelerometer (Actigraph wGT3X-BT) to objectively quantify individual moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during one week. Afterwards, the PAQ-C-It was filled in by participants. A ROC curve procedure was applied to obtain an active/non-active cut-off point. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was also applied to establish the relationship between the two parameters. According to the ROC analysis, the PAQ-C-It cut-off point value is identifiable at >2.75 to indicate active children (area under the curve = 0.62; standard error = 0.05; p = 0.025; coefficient intervals = 0.518–0.716; sensitivity = 0.592, specificity = 0.382), determining that 65 participants (55%) were non-active (mean PAQ-C-It value = 2.3 ± 0.4; active mean PAQ-C-It value = 3.3 ± 0.4). Spearman’s correlation coefficient results were significant but with a small effect size (rho = 0.214; p = 0.008). In conclusion, the present results suggest that the PAQ-C-It can be cautiously used as tool to practically classify active Italian children because of a non-solid relationship between respective accelerometer data and MVPA daily data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Physical Exercise on Children's Health in a School Context)

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13 pages, 636 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Enjoyment of Physical Activity—Not MVPA during Physical Education—Predicts Future MVPA Participation and Sport Self-Concept

by Jared D. Ramer, Natalie E. Houser, Robert J. Duncan and Eduardo E. Bustamante

Sports 2021, 9(9), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports9090128 - 10 Sep 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5729

Abstract

There exists a general understanding that physical education (PE) is a means to create a physically healthy population. However, disagreements arise over primary practices within PE to achieve this end. The primary divergence is whether PE facilitators should primarily ensure participants exert a specific level of energy during class or develop their confidence, competence, knowledge, and motivation for meaningful physical activity (PA) participation outside of the PE classroom (referred to as physical literacy (PL)). This study uses structural equation modeling to examine associations between enjoyment of PA and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in PE class in grade 5 (mean age = 10) and participation in PA and feelings about PA 1 year later, in grade 6 (mean age = 11), in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD, N = 1364). Enjoyment of PA in grade 5 predicted sport self-concept (β = 0.347, p ≤ 0.001), MVPA (β = 0.12, p ≤ 0.001), and enjoyment of PA (β = 0.538, p ≤ 0.001) in grade 6. These associations remained when including weekday MVPA performed in grade 5 as an indirect effect (β = 0.058, p ≤ 0.001). MVPA performed during PE in grade 5 was not associated with any PA outcomes in grade 6. Findings suggest PE instructors should prioritize PL development over maintenance of high energy expenditure during PE class for long-term MVPA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Physical Exercise on Children's Health in a School Context)

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Review

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15 pages, 491 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Narrative Review of Screen Time and Wellbeing among Adolescents before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for the Future

by Verity Y. Q. Lua, Terence B. K. Chua and Michael Y. H. Chia

Sports 2023, 11(2), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11020038 - 6 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4001

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of many. In particular, during the height of the pandemic, many experienced lockdowns, which in turn increased screen time drastically. While the pandemic has been declared an endemic and most activities have been reinstated, there appears to still be elevated screen time among adolescents due to poor habits formed during the pandemic lockdowns. This paper explores the factors by which screen time affects well-being among adolescents and how the pandemic may have influenced some of these factors. For example, beyond having greater screen time, many adolescents have also reduced their physical activities and picked up poor sleeping habits. These findings highlight the importance of having integrated activity guidelines that go beyond limiting adolescents’ daily screen time. It is important to affirm that beyond ensuring that adolescents limit their daily screen time, they are also meeting physical activity and sleep guidelines so that they achieve a holistic sense of wellbeing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Physical Exercise on Children's Health in a School Context)

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11 pages, 469 KiB

Open AccessReview

Multivariate Training Programs during Physical Education Classes in School Context: Theoretical Considerations and Future Perspectives

by Avelino Silva, Ricardo Ferraz, Pedro Forte, José E. Teixeira, Luís Branquinho and Daniel A. Marinho

Sports 2022, 10(6), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10060089 - 3 Jun 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3238

Abstract

Physical Education plays a fundamental role in promoting healthy habits and lifestyles, as well as in the development of individual and cognitive skills. To date, several investigations have reported positive effects on indicators of physical fitness, motor proficiency, and creativity as a result of specific training programs during Physical Education classes. However, the effects of multivariate training programs on the improvement of the aforementioned skills remain unclear in the literature. Through this brief review, the benefit of applying multivariate training programs during Physical Education classes on indicators of physical fitness, motor proficiency and creativity was critically analyzed. A narrative approach was applied to summarize the availed research as following: (i) theoretical background; (ii) research gaps/issues; (iii) subject explanation about multivariate training programs in Physical Education; and (iv) practical application and further research. The evidence reported in this regard may be useful for the development of multivariate training programs that simultaneously enable the improvement of indicators of physical fitness, motor proficiency and creativity. However, there is still no consensus in the literature on the best strategies (i.e., type of program, duration, intensity) to enhance motor proficiency and creativity in the context of Physical Education classes using multivariate training programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Physical Exercise on Children's Health in a School Context)

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