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Community and In-School Based Physical Activity in Children and Adolescent

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Children's Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 12532

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jeffrey S. Hallam

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Guest Editor

Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242-0001, USA
Interests: construct validation of health behavior interventions; physical activity behavior

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity has many health benefits for children and adolescents. Regular physical activity in children and adolescents promotes health and fitness. Compared to those who are inactive, physically active youth have higher levels of fitness, lower body fat, and improved bone strength and muscles. In addition, physical activity has brain health benefits for children and adolescents, including improved cognition and reduced symptoms of depression. Regular physical activity is important for promoting lifelong health and well-being and preventing risk factors for various health conditions like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. In this special issue, we present the practice-based evidence to inform evidence-based practice of physical activity in children and adolescents in community- and school-based programs.

Prof. Dr. Jeffrey S. Hallam
Guest Editor

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Keywords

physical activity
children
adolescents
community-based physical activity
in-school physical activity
out of school physical activity
physical education
exercise

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 690 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Participating in a School-Integrated Daily Exercise Program Improves Motor Performance Significantly in School-Children

by Denise Homeyer, Nima Memaran, Momme Kück, Lena Grams, Jeannine von der Born, Elena Bauer, Martina Schwalba, Arno Kerling, Nadine von Maltzahn, Alexander Albrecht, Axel Haverich, Meike Stiesch, Anette Melk and Uwe Tegtbur

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4764; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064764 - 8 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1768

Abstract

Children’s sedentary time has increased, while daily physical activity and motor performance have decreased. We evaluated an integrated school-based exercise program by assessing changes in motor skills after one year and comparing these changes to children who did not participate. We included 303 children from five schools in this longitudinal study and assigned them either to the exercise group (EG; n = 183 with daily exercise program) or the waiting group (WG; n = 120). Motor skills were assessed at baseline and after one year. Mixed modeling was used to analyze inter-group differences of change in motor skills and to determine the effect of sex, age group, and weight status. EG improved more strongly than WG for sprint, side jumps (both p = 0.017), stand and reach (p = 0.012), and ergometry (p ≤ 0.001) when compared to WG. Girls improved more strongly in the sit-ups than boys, second graders more than fifth graders in the backwards balance and the ergometry, and non-overweight children more in the standing long jump than overweight children. The exercise program is effective in increasing motor skills and physical fitness. Girls were not disadvantaged, and overweight children profited as much as their non-overweight peers in all categories but one. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community and In-School Based Physical Activity in Children and Adolescent)

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10 pages, 762 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Secondary School Students’ Physical Fitness on Sports Performance during an Ultimate Frisbee Competition

by Javier Portillo, Alfredo Bravo-Sánchez, Pablo Abián, Alberto Dorado-Suárez and Javier Abián-Vicén

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 3997; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073997 - 28 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3293

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of secondary school students’ fitness profile on physical and technical–tactical performance in simulated competition conditions of ultimate frisbee when there is no previous experience in the practice of the sport. Forty-three secondary school students participated in this research. The students were divided into two groups according to their results in the Assessing Levels of Physical Activity and fitness test battery (ALPHA fitness test): poor physical fitness (PPF) (N = 24; age: 14.9 ± 0.8 years; height: 166.1 ± 10.9 cm; body mass: 62.2 ± 11.0 kg; ALPHA fitness score: 2.7 ± 0.7 points) and good physical fitness (GPF) (N = 19; age: 14.5 ± 0.6 years; height: 165.9 ± 5.8 cm; body mass: 58.9 ± 7.5 kg; ALPHA fitness score: 4.4 ± 0.3 points). Physical variables during the ultimate frisbee match were assessed using Global Positioning System technology. The matches were video-recorded, and individual technical actions were noted afterwards. The GPF group showed higher values for running (p = 0.039), high-speed running (p = 0.015), sprinting (p = 0.022) and total distance covered (p = 0.025) than the PPF group. In addition, more passes (p = 0.019), offensive decision making (p = 0.009) and player participation (p = 0.046) were recorded in the GPF group than the PPF group. Correlational analysis revealed a positive relationship (p < 0.05) between individual participation and the meters covered for jogging, running, running at high speed and sprinting during the game. In conclusion, although the students were novices in ultimate frisbee, the high physical fitness level had a positive effect on the game performance. Physical education teachers should consider this information when introducing new sports into their physical education classes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community and In-School Based Physical Activity in Children and Adolescent)

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22 pages, 2728 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recommendations to Enhance Parental Involvement and Adolescent Participation in Physical Activity

by Colleen Cozett and Nicolette V. Roman

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031333 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3466

Abstract

Background: Adolescents are influenced by external factors which may impact their level of physical activity. Parents require specific strategies to become involved and to increase physical activity participation in adolescence. Objective: Thus, the current study aimed to design recommendations to increase physical activity participation and parental involvement. Methods: The current study forms part of a broader mixed-method study in which the results of the phases and stages of the pre-studies informed the current study. Thus, the current study uses an agreement workshop to develop recommendations with stakeholder and expert input in two rounds. Participants were invited to participate in the current study n = 100, and n = 65 participated in round one. Round two consisted of n = 20 experts invited to an agreement workshop, with n = 11 attending and making an input on the final recommendations. Therefore, experts and parents in the field of parenting, physical activity, and physical education, were invited to participate in the study rounds. After each round, the responses from the panellists were collated, interpreted, and developed into a framework for recommendations using thematic analysis. Themes were generated and refined using an agreement format. Results: After results from the stages and phases were consolidated and refined, six themes and 51 sub-themes were identified in a framework for recommendations. The framework was further refined using expert input and the final recommendations were derived using an agreement or agreement. Thus, with input from experts input through the agreement workshop, the findings were discussed, refined, and drafted into recommendations. Agreement and agreement were achieved on six broad recommendations and fifty-one sub-themes. The final recommendations were presented in the current study to increase parental involvement and physical activity in adolescents. Discussion: Recommendations and physical activity resources were developed and are presented as a form of support to parents and adolescents. The recommendations are intended as a source of unbiased information for parents to become more involved and for adolescents to increase physical activity participation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community and In-School Based Physical Activity in Children and Adolescent)

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20 pages, 395 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enabling Better Physical Activity and Screen Time Behaviours for Adolescents from Middle Eastern Backgrounds: Semi-Structured Interviews with Parents

by Nematullah Hayba, Yumeng Shi and Margaret Allman-Farinelli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12787; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312787 - 3 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2653

Abstract

The unrelenting obesity pandemic in Middle Eastern (ME) adolescents living in Australia warrants culturally responsive and locally engineered interventions. Given the influence of parents on the lifestyle behaviours of adolescents, this qualitative study aimed to capture the opinions of ME parents on the barriers and enablers to sufficient physical activity and limiting screen time behaviours in adolescents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 ME parents (female) aged 35–59 years old, most of whom resided in lower socioeconomic areas (n = 19). A reflexive thematic analysis using the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour model was performed for coding. Parents voiced confidence in their knowledge of the importance of physical activity and limiting screen time but were less optimistic in their ability to enable change in behaviours, especially for older adolescents without outside support. Despite adolescents having the necessary skills to engage in a wide array of sports, the parents admitted deep fears regarding the safety of the social environment and restricted their children’s independent mobility. Gender differences were noted, with parents reporting older girls expressing disinterest in sports and having limited physical opportunities to participate in sports at school. It may be that a community-based participatory framework is needed to improve physical activity opportunities and to address specific physical, social, and cultural barriers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community and In-School Based Physical Activity in Children and Adolescent)

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