Segmented school day sedentary behaviour and physical activity in a primary school – an observational study

Juha O Valtonen; Anna-Liisa Kyhälä; Jyrki Reunamo

Segmented school day sedentary behaviour and physical activity in a primary school – an observational study

Juha O Valtonen, Anna-Liisa Kyhälä, Jyrki Reunamo

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

The purpose of this quantitative observational study was to examine primary students’ sedentary behaviour (SB) and physical activity (PA) during segmented school days. The data of 2920 observation units was collected in all the primary schools in a city in southern Finland and analysed using cross-tabulation and z-tests. The results suggest that most SB was accumulated in theoretical subjects and most PA in recesses and physical education. Girls accumulated more ‘no motion’. Both genders’ ‘no motion’ increased when moving to the highest class level. In conclusion, the amount of ‘no motion’ needs to be studied and reduced, especially in classroom lessons.

Translated title of the contribution	Koulupäivän segmenttien aikainen paikallaanolo ja fyysinen aktiivisuus alakoulussa - observointitutkimus
Original language	English
Journal	Cogent Education
ISSN	2331-186X
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 11 Feb 2025
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Fields of Science

516 Educational sciences
315 Sport and fitness sciences

Access to Document

Segmented school day sedentary behaviour and physical activity in a primary school – an observational studyAccepted author manuscript, 486 KB

Cite this

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title = "Segmented school day sedentary behaviour and physical activity in a primary school – an observational study",

abstract = "The purpose of this quantitative observational study was to examine primary students{\textquoteright} sedentary behaviour (SB) and physical activity (PA) during segmented school days. The data of 2920 observation units was collected in all the primary schools in a city in southern Finland and analysed using cross-tabulation and z-tests. The results suggest that most SB was accumulated in theoretical subjects and most PA in recesses and physical education. Girls accumulated more {\textquoteleft}no motion{\textquoteright}. Both genders{\textquoteright} {\textquoteleft}no motion{\textquoteright} increased when moving to the highest class level. In conclusion, the amount of {\textquoteleft}no motion{\textquoteright} needs to be studied and reduced, especially in classroom lessons.",

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AU - Valtonen, Juha O

AU - Kyhälä, Anna-Liisa

AU - Reunamo, Jyrki

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N2 - The purpose of this quantitative observational study was to examine primary students’ sedentary behaviour (SB) and physical activity (PA) during segmented school days. The data of 2920 observation units was collected in all the primary schools in a city in southern Finland and analysed using cross-tabulation and z-tests. The results suggest that most SB was accumulated in theoretical subjects and most PA in recesses and physical education. Girls accumulated more ‘no motion’. Both genders’ ‘no motion’ increased when moving to the highest class level. In conclusion, the amount of ‘no motion’ needs to be studied and reduced, especially in classroom lessons.

AB - The purpose of this quantitative observational study was to examine primary students’ sedentary behaviour (SB) and physical activity (PA) during segmented school days. The data of 2920 observation units was collected in all the primary schools in a city in southern Finland and analysed using cross-tabulation and z-tests. The results suggest that most SB was accumulated in theoretical subjects and most PA in recesses and physical education. Girls accumulated more ‘no motion’. Both genders’ ‘no motion’ increased when moving to the highest class level. In conclusion, the amount of ‘no motion’ needs to be studied and reduced, especially in classroom lessons.

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KW - 315 Sport and fitness sciences

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