Impact of Active Breaks in the Classroom on Mathematical Performance and Attention in Elementary School Children.

academic achievement children physical activity school time

Journal

Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2227-9032
Titre abrégé: Healthcare (Basel)
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101666525

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
07 Dec 2021
Historique:
received: 20 10 2021
revised: 02 12 2021
accepted: 04 12 2021
entrez: 24 12 2021
pubmed: 25 12 2021
medline: 25 12 2021
Statut: epublish

Résumé

The increasing need to face the problem of sedentarism, especially in the COVID-19 era, induced teachers and researchers to find new intervention methodologies in school context. Active breaks (ABs) include brief periods of physical activity as a part of the curriculum. This study aimed to investigate the AB acute responses on attentive skills and mathematical performance and attention in a primary school. A total of 141 children (aged 9.61 ± 0.82), divided into six classes, participated in this study. Each class was randomly assigned to three groups on the basis of the type of protocol performed during the three ABs scheduled in a school day: fitness (FIT), creativity (CREAT), and control group (CON). At baseline and at the end of interventions, all participants underwent the Stroop Color and Word test (SCWT) and the math test (MATH) to assess the level of attention and mathematical performance, respectively. The degree of enjoyment was evaluated through the modified Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. The factorial ANOVA showed significant differences between the FIT and CON in MATH test ( This study showed a positive acute impact of AB interventions. FIT positively influenced attentive and math performances more than the CREAT, probably due to the correct work/rest ratio and executive rhythm that allowed children to reach a good level of exertion. This report showed that ABs can be a useful and productive activity to be performed between curricular lessons.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
The increasing need to face the problem of sedentarism, especially in the COVID-19 era, induced teachers and researchers to find new intervention methodologies in school context. Active breaks (ABs) include brief periods of physical activity as a part of the curriculum. This study aimed to investigate the AB acute responses on attentive skills and mathematical performance and attention in a primary school.
METHODS METHODS
A total of 141 children (aged 9.61 ± 0.82), divided into six classes, participated in this study. Each class was randomly assigned to three groups on the basis of the type of protocol performed during the three ABs scheduled in a school day: fitness (FIT), creativity (CREAT), and control group (CON). At baseline and at the end of interventions, all participants underwent the Stroop Color and Word test (SCWT) and the math test (MATH) to assess the level of attention and mathematical performance, respectively. The degree of enjoyment was evaluated through the modified Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale.
RESULTS RESULTS
The factorial ANOVA showed significant differences between the FIT and CON in MATH test (
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
This study showed a positive acute impact of AB interventions. FIT positively influenced attentive and math performances more than the CREAT, probably due to the correct work/rest ratio and executive rhythm that allowed children to reach a good level of exertion. This report showed that ABs can be a useful and productive activity to be performed between curricular lessons.

Identifiants

pubmed: 34946415
pii: healthcare9121689
doi: 10.3390/healthcare9121689
pmc: PMC8701340
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

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Auteurs

Giovanni Fiorilli (G)

Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.

Andrea Buonsenso (A)

Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.

Giulia Di Martino (G)

Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.

Claudia Crova (C)

Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00197 Rome, Italy.

Marco Centorbi (M)

Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.

Elisa Grazioli (E)

Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00197 Rome, Italy.

Eliana Tranchita (E)

Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00197 Rome, Italy.

Claudia Cerulli (C)

Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00197 Rome, Italy.

Federico Quinzi (F)

Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00197 Rome, Italy.

Giuseppe Calcagno (G)

Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.

Attilio Parisi (A)

Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00197 Rome, Italy.

Alessandra di Cagno (A)

Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00197 Rome, Italy.

Classifications MeSH