ERIC Number: EJ852730
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Sep
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0270-1367
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Pedometer-Assessed Physical Activity in Young Adolescents
Flohr, Judith A.; Todd, M. Kent; Tudor-Locke, Catrine
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, v77 n3 p309-315 Sep 2006
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physical activity (PA) patterns of children. Forty-four 7th-grade students (19 boys, 25 girls) recorded pedometer data for 2 consecutive weeks. Separate 2 x 3 repeated measures analyses of variance were used to examine differences in total steps/day between boys and girls and between after-school activity participants and nonparticipants. The relative contribution of physical education (PE) and after-school activity (ASA) to weekday steps/day was evaluated as a proportion, for example (steps taken in PE class/total daily steps taken on a PE class day)*100. The total sample mean was 11,392 steps/day, SD = 4,112; for boys, M = 12,490 steps/day, SD = 3,910, versus girls, M = 10,557 steps/day, SD = 4,142; F = (1, 42) 4.365, p = 0.043. The sample population averaged 2,046 steps, SD = 945, during PE class; boys = 2,379 steps, SD = 1,115, versus girls = 1,782, SD = 703; t (42) = 2.15, p = 0.038, d = 0.65, which represented 18% of the total steps/day on PE days. In comparison, the participants accumulated an average of 5,366 steps, SD = 2,590; ASA for boys = 5,897 steps/day, SD = 2,738, versus girls = 4,963 steps/day, SD = 2,450; t (42) = 1.190, p = 0.241, d = 0.36), representing 46% of the steps/day on all weekdays and 47% of the total on PE days. Expressed as a rate, the sample population took 45.5 steps/min (SD = 21) during PE class and 13.1 steps/min (SD = 4.7) in ASA on all weekdays. The relative stability of day-to-day behavior in youth is a preliminary finding but noteworthy. Although the absolute contribution of PE class to daily PA was less than ASA (i.e., 18 vs. 47%, respectively), the importance of the condensed contribution in class was evident when these two activities were expressed as rates (i.e., steps/min). These data indicate that youth involved in ASA accumulated a greater number of steps on all days, weekend days, and health education days when compared to youth not involved in ASA. (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Physical Education, Health Behavior, Physical Activities, Females, Physical Activity Level, Males, Measurement Equipment, Gender Differences, Early Adolescents, Grade 7, Leisure Time, Middle School Students, Health Education, Body Composition
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. 1900 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-213-7193; Fax: 703-476-9527; e-mail: info@aahperd.org; Web site: http://www.aahperd.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Grade 7; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A