The Effects of Wellness In The Schools (WITS) on Physical Activity During Recess in New York City Public Schools
Only 21% of U.S. children meet federal physical activity (PA) guidelines. Schools have insufficient time for physical education classes. School children typically have recess daily, making recess a venue to increase PA. Programs such as Wellness In the Schools (WITS) provide a coach during school re...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ubiquity Press
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Physical Activity and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://paahjournal.com/articles/44 |
| _version_ | 1818278682891911168 |
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| author | Priya Khorana Pamela A. Koch Raynika Trent Heewon L. Gray Randi L. Wolf Isobel R. Contento |
| author_facet | Priya Khorana Pamela A. Koch Raynika Trent Heewon L. Gray Randi L. Wolf Isobel R. Contento |
| author_sort | Priya Khorana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Only 21% of U.S. children meet federal physical activity (PA) guidelines. Schools have insufficient time for physical education classes. School children typically have recess daily, making recess a venue to increase PA. Programs such as Wellness In the Schools (WITS) provide a coach during school recess to lead organized activities and encourage all students to participate may provide students with health, psychological, academic and social benefits. This study was a quasi-experimental matched-control design with seven WITS intervention schools and seven matched control schools, measuring two outcomes: 1) PA level, 2) PA type (measured with an observational tool: System for Observing Play and Leisure Activities in Youth (SOPLAY)). Outcomes were measured in second and third graders pre-(T0) and post-(T1), one school-year into the WITS intervention during outdoor (T0 and T1) and indoor (inclement weather) (T1 only) recess. Results at T1 were compared between control and WITS schools with ANOVA tests. For PA level, the WITS intervention increased PA in indoor recess, a higher percentage of WITS girls and boys were vigorously active, a lower percentage were sedentary, and overall recess PA levels were higher (all p ≤ .001). For PA type, WITS intervention schools had higher overall PA level during ball-like activities during outdoor recess in girls (p = 0.002) and boys (p = 0.010). This study suggests active recess interventions increase PA level during indoor recess and during ball-like activities in outdoor recess, suggesting the WITS intervention has the potential to increase PA during school and help students receive the benefits of regular PA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T23:21:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e846c255aca44790854387bb6b78e054 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2515-2270 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T23:21:19Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Activity and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-e846c255aca44790854387bb6b78e0542022-12-22T00:08:17ZengUbiquity PressPhysical Activity and Health2515-22702019-12-013110.5334/paah.4432The Effects of Wellness In The Schools (WITS) on Physical Activity During Recess in New York City Public SchoolsPriya Khorana0Pamela A. Koch1Raynika Trent2Heewon L. Gray3Randi L. Wolf4Isobel R. Contento5Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NYDepartment of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NYDepartment of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NYDepartment of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FLDepartment of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NYDepartment of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NYOnly 21% of U.S. children meet federal physical activity (PA) guidelines. Schools have insufficient time for physical education classes. School children typically have recess daily, making recess a venue to increase PA. Programs such as Wellness In the Schools (WITS) provide a coach during school recess to lead organized activities and encourage all students to participate may provide students with health, psychological, academic and social benefits. This study was a quasi-experimental matched-control design with seven WITS intervention schools and seven matched control schools, measuring two outcomes: 1) PA level, 2) PA type (measured with an observational tool: System for Observing Play and Leisure Activities in Youth (SOPLAY)). Outcomes were measured in second and third graders pre-(T0) and post-(T1), one school-year into the WITS intervention during outdoor (T0 and T1) and indoor (inclement weather) (T1 only) recess. Results at T1 were compared between control and WITS schools with ANOVA tests. For PA level, the WITS intervention increased PA in indoor recess, a higher percentage of WITS girls and boys were vigorously active, a lower percentage were sedentary, and overall recess PA levels were higher (all p ≤ .001). For PA type, WITS intervention schools had higher overall PA level during ball-like activities during outdoor recess in girls (p = 0.002) and boys (p = 0.010). This study suggests active recess interventions increase PA level during indoor recess and during ball-like activities in outdoor recess, suggesting the WITS intervention has the potential to increase PA during school and help students receive the benefits of regular PA.https://paahjournal.com/articles/44physical activityschool wellnessrecessinterventionelementary school childrensoplay |
| spellingShingle | Priya Khorana Pamela A. Koch Raynika Trent Heewon L. Gray Randi L. Wolf Isobel R. Contento The Effects of Wellness In The Schools (WITS) on Physical Activity During Recess in New York City Public Schools Physical Activity and Health physical activity school wellness recess intervention elementary school children soplay |
| title | The Effects of Wellness In The Schools (WITS) on Physical Activity During Recess in New York City Public Schools |
| title_full | The Effects of Wellness In The Schools (WITS) on Physical Activity During Recess in New York City Public Schools |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of Wellness In The Schools (WITS) on Physical Activity During Recess in New York City Public Schools |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of Wellness In The Schools (WITS) on Physical Activity During Recess in New York City Public Schools |
| title_short | The Effects of Wellness In The Schools (WITS) on Physical Activity During Recess in New York City Public Schools |
| title_sort | effects of wellness in the schools wits on physical activity during recess in new york city public schools |
| topic | physical activity school wellness recess intervention elementary school children soplay |
| url | https://paahjournal.com/articles/44 |
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