Environmental Characteristics and Student Physical Activity in PE Class: Findings From Two Large Urban Areas of Texas

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Publication Details

Output type: Journal article

Author list: Skala KA, Springer AE, Sharma SV, Hoelscher DM, Kelder SH

Publisher: Human Kinetics

Publication year: 2012

Journal: Journal of Physical Activity and Health (1543-3080)

Volume number: 9

Issue number: 4

Start page: 481

End page: 491

Number of pages: 11

ISSN: 1543-3080

eISSN: 1543-5474

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

Unpaywall Data

Open access status: green

Full text URL: https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc3245768?pdf=render

Abstract

Background: Physical education (PE) classes provide opportunities for children to be active. This study examined the associations between specific environmental characteristics (teacher characteristics; class size, duration and location; and lesson context) and elementary school-aged children's moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA) during PE. Methods: Environmental characteristics and student activity levels were measured in 211 third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade PE classes in 74 Texas public schools using SOFIT direct observation. Results: Students engaged in less than half their PE class time in MVPA (38%), while approximately 25% of class time was spent in classroom management. Percent time in MVPA was significantly higher in outdoor classes compared with indoors (41.4% vs. 36.1%, P = .037). Larger (P = .044) and longer (P = .001) classes were negatively associated with percentage of MVPA and positively correlated with time spent in management (P < .001). Conclusions: Findings suggest that children's activity may be influenced by environmental factors such as class size, location, and lesson contexts. These findings hold important policy implications for PE class organization and the need for strategies that maximize children's MVPA. Further research is needed to test the causal association of these factors with student MVPA.

Keywords

health behavior, physical education, public health, youth

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