Improving Physical Activity and Athletic Performance in Disadvantaged Schools
Author Information
Author(s): Eilat-Adar Sigal, Arnon Michal, Steinberg Nili, Lidor Ronnie, Sky Bosmat
Primary Institution: Levinsky-Wingate Academic College, Wingate Campus, Netanya, Israel
Hypothesis
The intervention will improve physical activity habits, sports performance, and school climate among fifth and sixth graders in disadvantaged schools.
Conclusion
The study found that increasing the number of physical education classes can enhance athletic performance, particularly in endurance.
Supporting Evidence
- Significant improvements were seen in the stand-and-reach test among girls in the intervention group.
- No differences were seen between the groups in daily physical activity or school climate.
- Improvements in the shuttle-run beep test were observed only in the athletic subgroup.
Takeaway
Kids in disadvantaged schools can get better at sports and be more active if they have more gym classes each week.
Methodology
The study involved a controlled intervention trial with an intervention group participating in six weekly PE classes and a control group with two standard classes.
Potential Biases
Differences in parental country of origin may have influenced health behaviors and leisure habits.
Limitations
The study did not track the types of physical activity during lessons or measure the degree of physical exertion.
Participant Demographics
Participants were fifth and sixth graders from two schools in a disadvantaged neighborhood, with 80% of families in contact with local welfare.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website