Page 60 - Sember, Vedrana, and Shawnda A. Morrison. 2018. The Mind-Body Connection. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 60
Physical Activity Research
using evidence on secular trends in physical and motor develop-
ment of children and youth to plan its future activities and interven-
tions, as well as evaluate their effectiveness. To wit, the Ministry in-
troduced a health-oriented physical activity intervention program
‘Healthy Lifestyle’ to combat growing childhood obesity and de-
clining physical fitness (Strel, 2013). Current evidence from SLOfit
data suggest that these state-wide interventions are effective at in-
fluencing population movements (Strel, 2013), since obesity trends
have been in decline since 2011, and the physical fitness of primary
school children has improved significantly (Strel, 2013). Govern-
ment strategies, policies and investments was graded B+ (Sember
et al., 2016).
School Settings
Physical activity is important for children and adolescents. Schools
and community settings are necessary for promoting physical activ-
ity (Stone, McKenzie, Welk, & Booth, 1998), since children and ad-
olescents are most of the day in the school environment. In public
health and biomedical research, study design plays a major role in
interpretation (Rothman, 2012). Research studies are nowadays di-
vided into interventional and observational studies.
Interventional Studies. The interventional study design is also called
experimental study design. Interventional studies are studies where
investigator is acting on participants and changing their normal be-
havior. Interventional/experimental study designs are: randomized
controlled trial study design, crossover randomized controlled tri-
al study design, pre-post study design, non-randomised trial study
design (Thiese, 2014). Since schools have major influence on chil-
dren during their childhood and adolescent time, schools are the
best environment for physical activity interventions (Story, Nanney,
& Schwartz, 2009). Physical activity has been shown to be indirectly
associated with academic performance, including better classroom
behavior, self-esteem, engagement in school, on-task behavior and
lower drop rate (Trudeau & Shephard, 2008). Van Sluijs, McMinn,
and Griffin (2007) reviewed 57 studies on the effectiveness of inter-
58
using evidence on secular trends in physical and motor develop-
ment of children and youth to plan its future activities and interven-
tions, as well as evaluate their effectiveness. To wit, the Ministry in-
troduced a health-oriented physical activity intervention program
‘Healthy Lifestyle’ to combat growing childhood obesity and de-
clining physical fitness (Strel, 2013). Current evidence from SLOfit
data suggest that these state-wide interventions are effective at in-
fluencing population movements (Strel, 2013), since obesity trends
have been in decline since 2011, and the physical fitness of primary
school children has improved significantly (Strel, 2013). Govern-
ment strategies, policies and investments was graded B+ (Sember
et al., 2016).
School Settings
Physical activity is important for children and adolescents. Schools
and community settings are necessary for promoting physical activ-
ity (Stone, McKenzie, Welk, & Booth, 1998), since children and ad-
olescents are most of the day in the school environment. In public
health and biomedical research, study design plays a major role in
interpretation (Rothman, 2012). Research studies are nowadays di-
vided into interventional and observational studies.
Interventional Studies. The interventional study design is also called
experimental study design. Interventional studies are studies where
investigator is acting on participants and changing their normal be-
havior. Interventional/experimental study designs are: randomized
controlled trial study design, crossover randomized controlled tri-
al study design, pre-post study design, non-randomised trial study
design (Thiese, 2014). Since schools have major influence on chil-
dren during their childhood and adolescent time, schools are the
best environment for physical activity interventions (Story, Nanney,
& Schwartz, 2009). Physical activity has been shown to be indirectly
associated with academic performance, including better classroom
behavior, self-esteem, engagement in school, on-task behavior and
lower drop rate (Trudeau & Shephard, 2008). Van Sluijs, McMinn,
and Griffin (2007) reviewed 57 studies on the effectiveness of inter-
58
