Developmental trajectories of physical activity during elementary school physical education

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Exercise Science
• Physical Education Research
• Child Development

Background:

• School-based physical education (PE) is a key opportunity for promoting physical activity in children.
• Limited research exists on the developmental trends and influencing factors of objective moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during PE.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for designing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the developmental trajectories of MVPA during primary school PE lessons.
• To identify determinants of MVPA in children aged 8-12 years.
• To explore age and gender differences in MVPA during PE.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study involving 1202 students (grades 5-7) from 17 primary schools.
• Objective measurement of MVPA using accelerometers during regular PE lessons.
• Statistical analysis using linear mixed-model to examine developmental trends and predictors.

Main Results:

• Boys exhibited a higher percentage of MVPA than girls, yet no participants met recommended activity levels.
• A significant linear decrease in MVPA percentage was observed with increasing age.
• Higher perceived competence was associated with greater MVPA and mitigated age-related decline in boys.

Conclusions:

• Children's MVPA during PE does not meet recommended guidelines and declines with age (8-12 years).
• Perceived competence is a critical factor for maintaining MVPA, particularly for boys.
• Interventions should focus on enhancing perceived competence to support sustained physical activity in PE.