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Leisure-time physical activity in school environments: an observational study using SOPLAY
T L McKenzie1, S J Marshall, J F Sallis
1San Diego State University, San Diego, California, 92120, USA.
Preventive Medicine
|January 22, 2000
Summary
Few adolescents engage in physical activity (PA) during school leisure time. Objective tools like SOPLAY are crucial for measuring PA, with findings indicating a need for better school policies to encourage adolescent activity, especially for girls.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Physical Activity Measurement
- School-Based Interventions
Background:
- Schools are key environments for physical activity (PA) but lack objective measurement tools.
- Direct observation methods are needed to assess group PA and leisure-time PA in adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess an objective instrument for measuring group physical activity.
- To measure the leisure-time physical activity of adolescents throughout the school day.
Main Methods:
- Direct observation using the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY).
- Momentary time sampling to categorize activity as sedentary, walking, or very active.
- Study conducted in 24 middle schools in Southern California.
Main Results:
- Highest student participation in activity areas occurred during lunch (19.5%), followed by before (4.1%) and after school (2.1%).
- Significantly more boys than girls utilized activity areas and engaged in moderate to vigorous PA.
- Boys showed higher rates of moderate to vigorous PA compared to girls during before and lunch school periods.
Conclusions:
- Limited adolescent engagement in school-based leisure-time physical activity opportunities.
- Need for policy and environmental changes (e.g., supervision, equipment, programs) to boost participation, particularly for girls.
- Established the feasibility of SOPLAY as a tool for measuring group physical activity in schools.