Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Effect of School Recess Interventions on Physical Activity

A Systematic Review

  • Systematic Review
  • Published:
Sports Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The benefits of physical activity to maintain optimal health and well-being in children and adolescents are undisputed. The school environment offers opportunities for children to be physically active.

Objective

The aim of this review is to systematically examine the effects of recess-based interventions on the physical activity (PA) levels of school-aged children and adolescents.

Data Sources

A systematic literature search was conducted to identify papers reporting interventions to promote PA during school recess and/or lunchtime periods. The search was conducted in six databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus™, Web of Science, Proquest, Cochrane and Scopus) for papers published between January 2000 and April 2011.

Study Selection

Articles were included in the review if (i) they reported the findings of an intervention targeting PA levels of children and/or adolescents during school recess and/or lunchtime; (ii) have a measure of PA as an outcome variable; (iii) participants were aged between 5 and 18 years; and (iv) were published in English.

Methods

Two authors independently searched the literature using the same search strategies to identify papers reporting interventions that promote PA during school recess and lunchtime periods. Methodological quality was assessed using an adapted eight item assessment scale. The effects of the interventions were assessed with a rating system used in a recent review of interventions in youth.

Results

The search originally retrieved 2,265 articles. Nine published peer-reviewed journal articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. Eight studies used randomized controlled trials and one was a controlled trial. Three studies demonstrated high methodological quality (33%). None of the studies adequately reported the randomization procedure or used power calculations. Few studies reported potential confounders and three studies had less than a 6 week follow-up. Five studies demonstrated a positive intervention effect on children’s PA levels, with four reporting statistically significant increases and two reporting significant decreases in recess PA. The summary of the levels of evidence for intervention effects found inconclusive results for all intervention types, though promising strategies that require further investigation were identified.

Limitations

Whilst every effort was made to ensure that this review was as encompassing as possible, it may be limited by its search terms especially if there were studies with unclear titles or abstracts. In addition, only manuscripts published in English were considered, eliminating any possible studies published in other languages.

Conclusions

All of the studies used an objective measure to assess PA outcomes, although several criteria were consistently absent from the studies. The levels of evidence were not sufficient to establish conclusive intervention effects on children’s recess PA. This could be due to the small number of published studies. There is a need for higher-quality intervention research to strengthen published findings to inform recess PA interventions. Intervention research is needed in adolescents due to the absence of school recess intervention research in this population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. World Health Organisation. Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health. Geneva: WHO; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cancer Council New South Wales. Position statement: physical activity and reducing cancer risk. Kings Cross: Cancer Council, 2009 [online] Available from URL: http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/html/healthprofessionals/nutrition_physical/downloads/position%20statement%20-%20physical%20activity.pdf. [Accessed 2011 Oct 25].

  3. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Physical activity: policy endorsed by the 50th RACGP Council. 2008 [online]. Available from URL: http://www.racgp.org.au/policy/Physical_activity.pdf [Accessed 2011 Oct 25].

  4. Strong WB, Malina RM, Blimkie CJR, et al. Evidence based physical activity for school-age youth. J Pediatr. 2005;146(6):732–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Active kids are healthy kids. Australia’s physical activity recommendations for 5–12 year olds. Canberra (ACT): DoHA, 2004 [online]. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/9D7D393564FA0C42CA256F970014A5D4/$File/kids_phys.pdf [Accessed 25 Oct 2011].

  6. Pate RR, Davis MG, Robinson TN, et al. Promoting physical activity in children and youth. Circulation. 2006;114(11):1214–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Dollman J, Norton K, Norton L. Evidence for secular trends in children’s physical activity behaviour. Br J Sports Med. 2005;39(12):892–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Meron D, Rissel C, Reinten-Reynolds T, et al. Changes in active travel of school children from 2004 to 2010 in New South Wales, Australia. Prev Med. 2011;53(6):408–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kriemler S, Meyer U, Martin E, et al. Effect of school-based interventions on physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents: a review of reviews and systematic update. Br J Sports Med. 2011;45(11):923–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Centre for Disease Control. School health guidelines to promote healthy eating and physical activity. Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report. 2011;60(5).

  11. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Recess rules: why the undervalued playtime may be America’s best investment for healthy kids and healthy schools. Princeton: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Beurden E, Barnett LM, Zask A, et al. Can we skill and activate children through primary school physical education lessons? “Move it groove it”: a collaborative health promotion intervention. Prev Med. 2003;36(4):493–501.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Evans J. Changes to (primary) school recess and their effect on children’s physical activity: an Australian perspective. J Phys Educ NZ. 2003;36(1):53.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ridgers ND, Stratton G, Fairclough SJ. Physical activity levels of children during school playtime. Sports Med. 2006;36(4):359–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. van Sluijs EMF, McMinn AM, Griffin SJ. Effectiveness of interventions to promote physical activity in children and adolescents: systematic review of controlled trials. BMJ. 2007;335(7622):703.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Crombie IK, Davies HT. What is a meta-analysis? Evidence based medicine: what is? series. 2nd ed [online]. Available from URL: http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/painres/download/whatis/syst-review.pdf [Accessed 1 Jun 2012].

  17. Higgins JPT, Green SE, editors. Cochrane handbook for systematic reveiws. 2011 [online]. Available from URL: http://www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/cochrane/handbook/ [Accessed 1 of June 2012].

  18. Goldstein H, Yang M, Omar R, et al. Meta-analysis using multilevel models with an application to the study of class size effects. J R Stat Soc Ser C Appl Stat. 2000;49(3):399–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Elder JP, McKenzie TL, Arredondo EM, et al. Effects of a multi-pronged intervention on children’s activity levels at recess: the Aventuras para Ninos Study. Adv Nutr. 2011;2:171S–6S.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Stratton G. Promoting children’s physical activity in primary school: an intervention study using playground markings. Ergonomics. 2000;43:1538–46.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Stratton G, Mullan E. The effect of multicolor playground markings on children’s physical activity level during recess. Prev Med. 2005;41(5–6):828–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Ridgers ND, Fairclough SJ, Stratton G. Twelve-month effects of a playground intervention on children’s morning and lunchtime recess physical activity levels. J Phys Act Health. 2010;7(2):167–75.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ridgers ND, Stratton G, Fairclough SJ, et al. Children’s physical activity levels during school recess: a quasi-experimental intervention study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2007;4:19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Duncan M, Staples V. The impact of a school-based active video game play intervention on children’s physical activity during recess. Hum Mov. 2010;11(1):95–9.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ridgers ND, Stratton G, Fairclough SJ, et al. Long-term effects of a playground markings and physical structures on children’s recess physical activity levels. Prev Med. 2007;44(5):393–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Verstraete SJM, Cardon GM, De Clercq DLR, et al. Increasing children’s physical activity levels during recess periods in elementary schools: the effects of providing game equipment. Eur J Public Health. 2006;16(4):415–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Loucaides CA, Jago R, Charalambous I. Promoting physical activity during school break times: piloting a simple, low cost intervention. Prev Med. 2009;48(4):332–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Ridgers ND, Salmon J, Parrish AM, et al. Review of correlates of children’s and adolescent’s physical activity during school recess periods. Am J Prev Med. 2012;43(3):320–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Ridgers ND, Timperio A, Crawford D, et al. Five-year changes in school recess and lunchtime and the contribution to children’s daily physical activity. Br J Sports Med. 2012;46(10):741–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Parrish A-M, Yeatman H, Iverson D, et al. Using interviews and peer pairs to better understand how school environments affect young children’s playground physical activity levels: a qualitative study. Health Educ Res. 2012;27(2):269–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Parrish AM, Iverson D, Russell K, et al. Psychosocial barriers to playground activity levels. Br J School Nurs. 2012;7(3):20–6.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Pate RR, Baranowski TOM, Dowda M, et al. Tracking of physical activity in young children. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;28(1):92–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Blatchford P, Baines E, Pellegrini A. The social context of school playground games: sex and ethnic differences, and changes over time after entry to junior school. Br J Dev Psychol. 2003;21(4):481–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Boyle DE, Marshall NL, Robeson WW. Gender at play. Am Behav Sci. 2003;46(10):1326–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Sarkin JA. Gender differences in physical activity during fifth-grade physical education and recess periods. J Teach Phys Educ. 1997;17(1):99.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Kjønniksen L, Torsheim T, Wold B. Tracking of leisure-time physical activity during adolescence and young adulthood: a 10-year longitudinal study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2009;5:69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Funding: Anthony D. Okely is supported by a National Heart Foundation of Australia Career Development Fellowship (CR11S 6099). Nicola Ridgers is supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DE120101173). The remaining authors received no funding.

Conflict of interest

There are no known conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to this content of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

    Anne-Maree Parrish

  2. Interdisciplinary Educational Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

    Anne-Maree Parrish & Anthony D. Okely

  3. Health and Use of Time Group, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Rebecca M. Stanley

  4. Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Nicola D. Ridgers

Authors
  1. Anne-Maree Parrish
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anthony D. Okely
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rebecca M. Stanley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nicola D. Ridgers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne-Maree Parrish.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Parrish, AM., Okely, A.D., Stanley, R.M. et al. The Effect of School Recess Interventions on Physical Activity. Sports Med 43, 287–299 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-013-0024-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-013-0024-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation