Research Study Abstract

School Related Factors and 1yr Change in Physical Activity Amongst 9–11 year old English Schoolchildren

  • Published on December 31, 2012

Background Activity levels are known to decline with age and there is growing evidence of associations between the school environment and physical activity. In this study we investigated how objectively measured one-year changes in physical activity may be associated with school-related factors in 9- to 10-year-old British children.

Methods Data were analysed from 839 children attending 89 schools in the SPEEDY (Sport, Physical Activity, and Eating behaviours: Environmental Determinants in Young People) study. Outcomes variables were one year changes in objectively measured sedentary, moderate, and vigorous physical activity, with baseline measures taken when the children were 9–10 years old. School characteristics hypothesized to be associated with change in physical activity were identified from questionnaires, grounds audits, and computer mapping. Associations were examined using simple and multivariable multilevel regression models for both school (9 am – 3 pm) and travel (8–9 am and 3–4 pm) time.

Results Significant associations during school time included the length of the morning break which was found to be supportive of moderate (β coefficient: 0.68 [p: 0.003]) and vigorous (β coefficient: 0.52 [p: 0.002]) activities and helps to prevent adverse changes in sedentary time (β coefficient: -2.52 [p: 0.001]). During travel time, positive associations were found between the presence of safe places to cross roads around the school and changes in moderate (β coefficient: 0.83 [p:0.022]) and vigorous (β coefficient: 0.56 [p:0.001]) activity, as well as sedentary time (β coefficient: -1.61 [p:0.005]).

Conclusion This study suggests that having longer morning school breaks and providing road safety features such as cycling infrastructure, a crossing guard, and safe places for children to cross the road may have a role to play in supporting the maintenance of moderate and vigorous activity behaviours, and preventing the development of sedentary behaviours in children.

Author(s)

  • Joyce A Mantjes 1,2
  • Andrew P Jones 2,4
  • Kirsten Corder 4
  • Natalia R Jones 2,4
  • Flo Harrison 2,4
  • Simon J Griffin 3,4
  • Esther MF van Sluijs 3,4

Institution(s)

  • 1

    Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Section F, PO Box 196, Groningen, 9700 AD, The Netherlands

  • 2

    School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7JT, UK

  • 3

    Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Box 285, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK

  • 4

    UK CRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research, Institute of Public Health, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK


Journal

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2012, 9:153


Categories

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