School Playgrounds and Physical Activity
Author Information
Author(s): Natalie Colabianchi, Andréa L Maslow, Kamala Swayampakala
Primary Institution: University of South Carolina
Hypothesis
Are specific features of school playgrounds associated with their utilization and the physical activity levels of users?
Conclusion
Having a large quantity of play features and shade at renovated playgrounds were positively associated with utilization of the schoolyard.
Supporting Evidence
- Renovated schoolyards with more play features had higher utilization rates.
- Overall cleanliness was negatively associated with utilization in girls and boys.
- Coverage/shade for resting features was positively associated with utilization in adults and boys.
Takeaway
More play equipment and shade at school playgrounds can make them more popular and used by kids and adults.
Methodology
Direct observation of 20 urban schoolyards was conducted using environmental assessment tools and observation protocols.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the observational nature of the study and reliance on direct observation methods.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size of 20 schoolyards, which may limit the ability to detect significant associations.
Participant Demographics
The study included users of schoolyards, with a demographic breakdown of the surrounding community being 54% African American, 39% White, and 8% Hispanic.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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