ERIC Number: EJ1405735
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: EISSN-1746-1561
Sitting Less for Success: Reducing Sedentary Behaviors to Increase Kindergarten Achievement
Journal of School Health, v94 n2 p117-127 2024
Background: Physical activity (PA) improves outcomes, but disadvantaged children typically experience more sedentary behavior (SB). This study explored movement, executive function (EF) health, and academic achievement (AA) for economically disadvantaged kindergarteners. Methods: Children in 2 classrooms (n = 16; n = 7) wore wrist-based accelerometers to assess PA/SB during the school day. Independent t-tests and analysis of variance analyzed mean group differences in PA/SB and EF/AA, and correlations explored AA and EF associations. Results: The movement-based class spent significantly less time in SB compared to the contemporary class (t = 2.552, g = 1.115), made greater reading (t = -2.611) and math (t = 0.967) gains, and had better EF (t = 0.012). There were significant negative correlations between SB and math (r = -0.534) and reading (r = -0.592), but no significant relationships with EF. Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity: Schools should consider methods to decrease time spent in SB at lower-SES schools, which is financially feasible and less time-consuming than programs to increase PA. Conclusion: Decreased SB time was associated with better AA. More research is needed to determine whether interventions to decrease time spent in SB at school improve academic outcomes in disadvantaged children.
Descriptors: Physical Activity Level, School Policy, Correlation, Socioeconomic Status, Disadvantaged, Outcomes of Education, Comparative Analysis, Mathematics Achievement, Reading Achievement, Achievement Gains, Intervention, Equal Education, Educational Practices, Kindergarten
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Kindergarten; Primary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A