ERIC Number: EJ1139622
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Jun
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: N/A
School and Neighborhood Predictors of Physical Fitness in Elementary School Students
Kahan, David; McKenzie, Thomas L.
Journal of School Health, v87 n6 p448-456 Jun 2017
Background: We assessed the associations of 5 school and 7 neighborhood variables with fifth-grade students achieving Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) or Needs Improvement-Health Risk (NI-HR) on aerobic capacity (AC) and body composition (BC) physical fitness components of the state-mandated FITNESSGRAM® physical fitness test. Methods: Data for outcome (physical fitness) and predictor (school and neighborhood) variables were extracted from various databases (eg, Data Quest, Walk Score®) for 160 schools located in San Diego, California. Predictor variables that were at least moderately correlated (|r| = .30) with =1 outcome variables in univariate analyses were retained for ordinary least squares regression analyses. Results: The mean percentages of students achieving HFZ AC (65.7%) and BC (63.5%) were similar (t = 1.13, p = 0.26), while those for NI-HR zones were significantly different (AC = 6.0% vs BC = 18.6%; t = 12.60, p < 0.001). Correlations were greater in magnitude for school than neighborhood demographics and stronger for BC than AC. The school variables free/reduced-price lunch (negative) and math achievement (positive) predicted fitness scores. Among neighborhood variables, percent Hispanic predicted failure of meeting the HFZ BC criterion. Conclusions: Creating school and neighborhood environments conducive to promoting physical activity and improving fitness is warranted.
Descriptors: Physical Fitness, Risk, Body Composition, Tests, Databases, Scores, Physical Activities, Correlation, Grade 5, Elementary School Students, Neighborhoods, Least Squares Statistics, Lunch Programs, Predictor Variables, Mathematics Achievement, Hispanic American Students, Community Characteristics
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2429/WileyCDA
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 5; Intermediate Grades; Middle Schools; Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California (San Diego)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A