Decreasing Sedentary Behavior: Effects on Academic Performance, Meta-Cognition, and Sleep.
June J Pilcher1, Drew M Morris1, Stewart A Bryant1
1Department of Psychology, Clemson UniversityClemson, SC, USA.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|May 25, 2017
Summary
Activity workstations allow light physical activity during study without harming academic performance. Students using these workstations maintained stable sleep quality, unlike those at traditional desks.
Area of Science:
- Kinesiology
- Educational Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Sedentary behavior is prevalent in academic settings.
- Activity workstations offer a potential solution for increasing light physical activity.
- Previous research on activity workstations in educational environments is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the academic performance and sleep quality of college students studying at activity workstations versus traditional desks.
- To assess the feasibility of integrating activity workstations into university settings.
- To explore the impact of light physical activity on cognitive tasks in a sedentary environment.
Main Methods:
- 117 college students were assigned to study at either stationary bike workstations or traditional desks for 2 hours weekly over 10 weeks.
- Participants completed pre, weekly, and post surveys assessing study experience and sleep quality.
- Academic performance was measured by test scores in an introductory psychology course.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in academic performance was found between the two groups.
- Students at traditional desks reported decreased sleep quality, while those at workstations maintained stable sleep quality.
- Students at traditional desks reported greater ease and effectiveness of studying.
Conclusions:
- Activity workstations can be implemented in universities to promote light physical activity without compromising academic outcomes.
- These workstations may offer long-term health and well-being benefits by combating sedentary behavior.
- Activity workstations are suitable for environments requiring prolonged sitting, such as educational settings and workplaces.
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