A Study of the Effects of a Structured Daily Physical Activity Intervention in Schools in Malta

Bibliographic Data

ID22045598
AuthorsCharles Attard (0009-0005-0334-8314, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology), Renzo Kerr-Cumbo (0000-0002-1324-9257, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, corresponding author), Matthew Muscat-Inglott (0000-0002-2091-3494, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology), Melanie Darmanin (0000-0002-1422-0384, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology), Heathcliff Schembri (0000-0003-4607-0795, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology)
Year2024
Volume14
Issue2
Pages122
Publication date2024-01-25
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEducation Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2227-7102 • E-ISSN: 2227-7102
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/educsci14020122
OpenAlexW4391229585
LanguageEN
References cited16

The measurement of daily step counts is a widely adopted and efficacious approach for assessing children’s physical activity levels. With the aim of finding out the effect of daily PA sessions in schools on the total PA levels in terms of steps taken, two (treatment and control) Year Four classrooms (with students aged from eight to nine years old) in three participating schools in Malta participated in this study. A random sample of 45 children across all the treatment and control groups wore pedometers for five continuous school days. Additional data were logged to facilitate data analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted on data from 18 participants, as incomplete data were eliminated. The findings show that a daily physical activity programme was sufficient to make a significant difference in the number of steps taken at school. It also made the difference between Maltese schools being either under par (if not engaged in daily PA at school) or among high-performing nations (if engaged in daily PA at school) in terms of the proportional contribution of steps taken at school to children’s total PA. However, the capacity for school-based activity to exert wider effects on total steps taken throughout the entire day appears to be limited. Reported engagement in additional formal sports activities outside school also had limited effects on steps overall. Finally, a statistical model incorporating sex, daily PA, sports participation, and BMI as exogenous variables accounted only for around a quarter of the variation in average daily pedometer-measured PA, leaving approximately 75% of the variation unexplained. Implications of the findings are discussed, including recommendations for alternative ways of conceptualising and promoting health-related physical activity and exercise

Mathematics education · Medical education · Pedagogy · Physical activity · Physical therapy · Children's Physical and Motor Development · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Physical Activity and Health · Psychology

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