Education Commons^™

N-95 Masks Have No Effect On Spontaneous Physical Activity, Dalton Lesser, Jake Laufenberg, Zachary Zeigler

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

In recent years, the use of facemasks has greatly increased, especially due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many individuals were required to wear a face mask for long durations. The impact of mask wearing on spontaneous physical activity (PA) is unknown. PURPOSE: This study seeks to determine if wearing an N-95 mask for extended duration would have any impact on spontaneous physical activity. METHODS: 12 total participants aged 18-21 yr. were recruited for this experimental cross-over study. Subjects reported to the lab twice, separated by one week, to receive a wrist-worn accelerometer. One condition was control …

The Study Of A Generalized Fitness Education Program's Effect On Personality Traits, Garrett Schliep

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This longitudinal study was to measure the influence of a generalized fitness education program on the percentile of individuals’ personality traits in college aged individuals. The personality traits are those determined in the Five Factor Model of Personality. The Five Factor Model of Personality is a beneficial tool used in exercise psychology that refers to a broad domain of personality traits often referred to as the “Big Five”. The findings reject the hypothesis that a fitness education program would shift an individual’s personality a statistically significant amount.

The Three R'S Of Exercise: Review, Reframe, Recommend, Liam Arenas-Field

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Physical inactivity presents itself as a public health crisis worldwide, with significant risks to all populations. Two causes we identified are environmental factors and a lack of education. By providing a brief overview of bioenergetics and exercise prescription to the inexperienced, we can help educate and enable people to improve their activity level. Publicly available exercise guidelines often present themselves as very broad and nonspecific. Through further exploration, it becomes apparent that the concepts within more detailed exercise guidelines can be hard to interpret by those inexperienced in kinesiology. A key theme of exercise enjoyment leading to exercise adherence promotes …

Physical Activity Preference And Participation In Middle School Age Students In Kentucky, Fabian Correia

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Physical activity (PA) in youth is significant as it begins to lay the fountain for a healthier lifestyle as children age. The benefits of being regularly physically active are plentiful as it improves muscle strength, cardiovascular, fitness, and cognitive functions (Rodgers, 2008). However, oftentimes in physical education classes, the voice of the student tends to go unheard. The purpose of this study was to determine how the perception or preference to be physically active differs by age, gender, and/or ethnicity in a middle school setting. The goal of this study is to shed ligt on how building a more inclusive …

The Effect Of Physical Activity Courses On The Motivation For Physical Activity In College Students: A Scoping Review, Erica Fauste Waizenhofer Hill

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The lack of physical activity and exercise participation has been an ongoing
problem for young adults aged 18-24. Universities and colleges worldwide offer a variety of required and elective physical activity courses for college credit to increase active participation in lifelong healthy lifestyles. This scoping review collected studies on college students’ motivation to participate in physical activity. The courses were taught using methods based on motivational theories. The authors of the studies collected information from the students before and after the classes to gather data on the theoretical framework’s effect on the students, if any. This review compiles this information, …

Effect Of A University Physical Activity Challenge On Levels Of Anxiety, Depression, Stress, And Perceived Dependency Of Wearing A Physical Activity Tracker, Emily M. Jackson, Sarah M. Camhi, Stephanie L. Cooper

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Many studies have researched the benefits of physical activity (PA) and well-being, leading many universities to promote PA on campus. There is limited research on how university-based PA promotion impacts mental health, as well as the impact of wearing a physical activity tracker (PAT) and its potential to create dependency on wearing the device. PURPOSE: To understand the effects of a 4-week campus-wide PA challenge on levels of anxiety, depression, and stress in college students, and the potential dependency effects of wearing a PAT. METHODS: For the duration of the 4-week challenge, 44 undergraduate and 6 graduate students …

Academic Stress And Motivation For Physical Activity In College Students, Gustavo Donis-Castro, Sarah Dunn

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: Stress and the college experience go hand in hand. Stress has been shown to negatively impact a college student’s life and their confidence. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the influence that academic stress in college students has on one's motivation to participate in physical activity (PA). METHODS: An Institutional Review Board approved Qualtrics, cross-sectional online survey was conducted during the fall 2021 term. This study utilized the 13-item Perceived Stress Inventory (PSI), and 9-item Self-Efficacy for Exercise (SEE), based on studies by Avdija, A. S. (2018) and Resnick, et al. (2000) respectively. Questions …

The Relationship Between Nature Connectedness And Physical Activity Patterns In A Sample Of Collegiate Students, Faculty, And Staff, Destinee Waddy

The Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin

PURPOSE: A strong relationship exists between physical activity (PA) and nature connectedness (NC); the most physically active individuals may also be the most nature connected. Designing PA programs and modifying college campuses through the lens of biophilia can provide a more logical, evidence-based approach to improve overall health and wellness. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between physical activity and nature connectedness in a sample of collegiate faculty and students. METHODS: Participants completed two previously validated surveys: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Connectedness to Nature Survey. Demographic data (age, race, campus affiliation) were also …

The Big Hearts Program: Developing A Physical Activity Program For Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Kathryn A. Rorer, Vanessa Q. Mikan Phd, Edward K. Merritt Phd

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Less than one-third of the population of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) weekly recommended physical activity (PA) requirements (Temple et al., 2006). This qualitative case study focused on a PA program for five women with IDDs. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to (a) engage participants in in-person encouragement via completing the tasks with participants and motivational words during activities and (b) assess the level of daily physical activity (via daily step count through an activity tracker). METHODS: Participants completed a month-long study, consisting of wearing a fitness tracker, …

Teach Pilot Study: Implementation Of An E-Learning Course In Physical Activity And Sedentary Behaviour For Pre- And In-Service Early Childhood Educators (Eces), Faith E.A Heidary, Brianne A. Bruijns, Patricia Tucker

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Early childhood educators (ECEs) are highly influential in promoting healthy movement behaviours (e.g. physical activity [PA] and sedentary behaviour [SB]) in early childhood. It is essential that ECEs gain knowledge and confidence in their ability to incorporate appropriate amounts of high-quality movement experiences for children in their care. However, ECEs do not currently receive related education in their current pre-service programs or professional development in practice.

The Training EArly CHildhood educators in physical activity (TEACH) study intends to improve ECEs’ knowledge, confidence, and intentions regarding promoting healthy movement behaviours by providing comprehensive training in PA, SB, outdoor and risky play …

Mandated To Move: Teacher Identified Barriers, Facilitators, And Recommendations To Implementing Daily Physical Activity, Lauren Martyn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Ontario elementary school teachers are mandated to implement 20 minutes of physical activity into classroom instruction each day under the Ontario Daily Physical Activity policy but are experiencing barriers. Effective implementation is essential to school-aged children's daily physical activity recommendation and, ultimately, the physical, cognitive and emotional benefits that coincide. The present study engaged 13 teachers across Ontario who teach in elementary schools through small virtual focus groups. Discussion on the facilitators, barriers, and recommendations to incorporating physical activity in the classroom was explored through the social-cognitive and social-ecological frameworks. A thematic analysis revealed teachers most frequently identified barriers related …

Teachers' Perspectives On The Impact Of Physical Activity On Classroom Behavior, Emma Vasek

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Research shows that there are numerous benefits to allowing students to be physically active throughout the school day, such as increasing motivation, decreasing behavioral issues, and improving on-task behavior (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018) The purpose of this research was to assess, from the perspective of teachers and teacher aids, the relationship between physical activity and elementary school aged students’ academic and behavioral performance in the classroom. Previous research conducted supports that the inclusion of physical activity during the school day helps improve students’ academic and behavioral performance in the classroom. Teachers and teacher aides were chosen as …

An Examination Of High School Physical Education Teachers Support Of Students’ Physical Activity Self-Efficacy, Ken Murfay

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Providing students with experiences to increase their confidence (self-efficacy) to be physically active is important because of the many health benefits associated with physical activity (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2020). Several studies have shown that physical activity (PA) tends to decline as students age (Cooper et al., 2015; Metcalf et al., 2015; Troiano et al., 2008) and the largest declines usually occur in adolescence (Sallis, 2000). It is recommended that physical education (PE) serve as an intervention to promote PA and provide students with experiences to increase motor competence and PA knowledge (Weiss, 2013). Interventions within …

Move For A Healthy Mind: A Program Of Peer-Led Physical Activity For Adolescents With Depression And Anxiety, Emily Edwards

Master's Projects and Capstones

The following discusses adolescent depression and anxiety and the utilization of physical activity as an intervention or coping mechanism. Adolescents have been experiencing increased rates of anxiety or depression diagnoses over the past roughly two decades. Adolescence is, physiologically, a formative period in the developmental stage from childhood to adulthood. Current barriers to achieving optimal mental health among the adolescent population include the stigmatization of mental health issues, lack of education, socioeconomic status and healthcare access. Further, physical activity has been studied and identified to be an effective treatment for individuals experiencing depression and anxiety. In an effort to treat …

Health Ambassadors: A Model For Engaging Community Leaders To Promote Better Health, Sandra Torres

Master's Projects and Capstones

Obesity continues to be a growing epidemic in the United States. Individuals who live in low-income communities’ face inequities in areas that continue to have adverse and long-lasting consequences. These consequences can extend from economic conditions, social support, and a lack of access to healthy eating choices and physical activity, all of which contribute to higher obesity rates. It is essential to increase opportunities for change in low-income communities and provide ongoing recommendations to policymakers to allocate resources where it is needed. This paper aims to examine a Health Ambassador model in low-income communities tailored to residents in public housing …

Understanding The Effects Of Physical Activity On Executive Functioning And Psycho-Emotional Well-Being In Children With Adhd, Hannah B. Bigelow

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

A short bout of physical activity has been shown to improve executive functioning in children. However, the implications for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been understudied. We examined the impact of a 10min bout of physical activity on executive functioning and psycho-emotional well-being in children with ADHD. Participants engaged in two lab-based sessions separated by 1-week: a physical activity session and a control session. The physical activity session included a 10min bout of moderate-intensity biking, with a pre-post battery of cognitive and psycho-emotional assessments. The control session consisted of 10mins of silent reading. We used functional imaging …

Fitnessgram Assessment Results In Five Rural Counties Of Georgia, Tara L. Underwood, Jimmie H. Smith Jr, Dawood H. Sultan

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Childhood obesity continues to be more prevalent in the United States (US) than ever before. Youth who reside in rural areas tend to experience higher risks of obesity and overweight status, mainly due to barriers to physical activity. Even though the US federal government has mandated a daily requirement of physical activity for all school-age children, the majority of youth from rural communities tend to not achieve the recommended Health Fitness Zone (HFZ) goals.

Methods: The FITNESSGRAM is the instrument that has been used to measure and report students’ physical activity and body mass index (BMI) based …

Two Studies Conceptualizing Physical Literacy For Assessment Of High School Students In The United States, Chelsee Shortt

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Toward the advancement of physical literacy (PL) in the United States, the purpose of this dissertation was to operationalize the construct and work toward a foundational framework to which PL can be assessed. The purpose of Study 1 was to develop an operational conceptualization of PL via a modified Delphi approach. The purpose of Study 2 was to expand upon the findings from Study 1 by exploring adolescents' perceptions of PL using repertory grid analysis (RGA).

Methods: Study 1 used a sequential, mixed methods design. Participants (N=22) were national and international PL academics with peer-reviewed publications on PL or …

An Exploration Of Supports For Increasing Classroom Physical Activity Within Elementary Schools, Hannah G. Calvert, Julianne Wenner, Lindsey Turner

Publications

Classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) can significantly benefit students’ health and educational outcomes, but many teachers do not utilize CBPA. This study examined teachers’ perceptions about the value and impact of several approaches to support CBPA implementation, and teachers’ weekly self-reported CBPA use. Interviews were conducted with 35 classroom teachers (including those using and not using CBPA) at two public elementary schools, and CBPA tracking logs were collected on a weekly basis. Interview transcripts were interpreted through key domains within implementation science. On average, teachers reported using one activity every other day. Interview data revealed that utilizing professional collaboration time for …

An Examination Into The Attitudes Of Girls Towards Physical Activity And Performance In Aerobic Capacity, Cynthia Dawn Fairey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the last 30 years, physical activity among adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18 has continued to decline, and the risk of morbidity associated with sedentary living has increased (CDC, 2017). Furthermore, research has identified females as being at greater risk of morbidity because they are opting out of physical activity at twice the rate of boys and not getting the recommended 60 minutes a day of physical activity (NPAP, 2016). Many girls are avoiding physical education classes, where the concepts of health-related fitness, the development of skills necessary to participate in a variety of physical activities, and …

Physical Activity Improving Executive Functioning Behaviors In Montessori Children Ages 3-12, Melissa Patten, Amanda Bodden

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Executive function refers to the intellectual processes necessary for goal-directed cognition and behavior, which develop across childhood and adolescence. This study focused on the effects of physical activity on concentration and focus, prior to academic lessons, in urban Montessori classrooms ages 3-12. This study was administered for six weeks utilizing a thematic calendar of physical activities. The tools used for data collection were: a pre-dialogue with teachers, pre and post-assessments, control tallies, on and off-task observation counts and a post-satisfaction survey. Movement interventions improved focus and concentration by an average of 27%. The data collected supported our hypothesis that purposeful …

High School Physical Education And Its Effects On Fitness Center Participation After Graduation: A Case Study, David C. Barney, Nathan Kahaialii

Faculty Publications

For those that send off their child into the world, it is hoped they will recall what was taught to them. This applies to high school (HS) physical education (PE) teachers and their students that graduate from HS. The purpose of this case study was to assess current HS PE teachers, fitness club personnel, those that frequent fitness clubs and current HS students regarding HS PE preparing HS students for real world application regarding fitness. Participants from these four groups were interviewed to help better understand the preparation of graduated HS students participating in health clubs. From this case study …

The Influence Of The Educational Environment On College Student Activity Behaviors, Helen M. Ziegler

Dissertations

Healthy Campus 2020, an initiative that provides a framework to support campuses in improving the health of their students, staff, and faculty, recognizes physical activity as one of the top eleven priorities for positively influencing health risk behaviors in college populations (American College Health Association, 2012). However, there is not much research to support the best way to influence physical activity behaviors and what types of programs and facilities can provide the greatest impact. The purpose of this study was to investigate which components or programs within the higher education environment have the greatest influence on college students’ intention to …

Participatory Action Research Examining The Role Of Physical Activity In Mentoring For Resilience, Francesca Gable

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study examined the use of physical activity-based mentorship programs to positively influence student mental health and resilience in post-secondary institutions. The process of relationship building was observed through regularly implemented physical activity interactions over time. The purpose was to determine the ability of a physical activity-based mentorship relationship to positively influence student resilience. A participatory action research methodology was used to engage with a population of ninety undergraduate Kinesiology students (30 mentors:60 protégés) over an eight-month period. Sixty interviews and thirteen focus groups were conducted, and fifteen-hundred pages of journal reflections were consulted to further understand the relationship building …

Exercise Is Medicine-On Campus Initiative At Southwestern University, Kali Rose, Vanessa Mikan Phd

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

BACKGROUND: The Exercise Is Medicine (EIM) global health initiative aims to increase the amount of physical activity (PA) people are engaging in, with the intent of helping them meet the U.S. National PA guidelines. INTRODUCTION: The need for an increase in daily PA is becoming more evident with the steady increase in overweight and obesity rates impacting our quality of non-diseased life years. Research supports the numerous physical and mental benefits associated with exercise. The historical use of exercise as medicine dates back to over two millennia ago in which it was prescribed to help cure a variety of ailments. …

An Eight-Week Physical Activity Intervention Is Associated With Gross Motor Skills In Preschool Children, Azeem A. Hussain, Fernando Juarez Jr., Shiyu Li, Vanessa Estrada, Jill Johnstone, Erica T. Sosa, Zenong Yin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The preschool age (three to five years old) is critical in developing gross motor skills. Additionally, children with higher fundamental movement skills are more likely to participate in high levels of physical activity (Han, Fu, Cobley, & Sanders, 2018). PURPOSE: To determine if the eight-week physical activity (PA) pilot intervention program is associated with gross motor development in preschool children ages three to five years old. METHODS: Study participants were 35 children (average age=3.74 (SD 0.74); 82.67% Hispanics, 8.57% African American, 2.86% white, and 5.71% others) enrolled in two Head Start Centers in San Antonio, Texas. Gross motor …

Analyzing Physical Education Teacher Behavior Using Systematic Observation, Seth T. Eckler

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Introduction: Experts in the field have advocated that quality physical education (QPE) is the centerpiece of a comprehensive school physical education program (CSPAP). Evidence-based programs and instructional models have shown great promise in increasing the physical activity (PA) of today’s youth. However, little is known about the specific impact of teaching behaviors (TB) used within these programs and their impact on student outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to use a systematic observation method that is primarily focused on analyzing TBs that are displayed in class, identify TBs that may contribute to positive student activity outcomes, and make …

Relationship Between Physical Activity And Stress Among Junior High School Students In The Physical Education Environment, David C. Barney, Frank Pleban, Terrance Lewis

Faculty Publications

The study purpose was to explore grade level differences (7^th, 8^th, and 9^th) among junior high school students’ perception of participation in physical education class on individual environmental stress. Physical activity’s role as a stress reduction tool has been well documented. However, physical activity as a stressful event in the school and physical education environment has been less established; particularly in junior high school students. Study participants were comprised of 872 junior high school students, 585 males (67%) and 287 females (33%), enrolled in four junior high schools. Stratified by grade, 315 7^{th …}

Exploring The Effects Of Recess On Academic Performance, Grace Grevengoed

Selected Honors Theses

This paper seeks to explore the effects of recess on an elementary student’s academic performance based on interviews completed with educational professionals. By answering the interview questions, these responses helped gauge the attitudes and perspectives these professionals have towards the inclusion of recess in their students’ days. Recess is currently being left out of daily routine for sake of more instructional time in a classroom. This study seeks to add to the stance of students needing recess as a time of unstructured play, in which they can learn meaningful interactions that would otherwise be omitted from their learning.

Validity Of Consumer-Based Physical Activity Monitors For Estimating Energy Expenditure In Youth, Andrew Blythe, Scott E. Crouter Phd, Samuel R. Lamunion Ms

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.