scholarly journals The Impact of State Laws and District Policies on Physical Education and Recess Practices in a Nationally Representative Sample of US Public Elementary Schools

2012 ◽  
Vol 166 (4) ◽  
pp. 311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Nicholson
2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 641-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey Turner ◽  
Jamie F. Chriqui ◽  
Frank J. Chaloupka

Background:Active transportation to school provides an important way for children to meet physical activity recommendations. The “walking school bus” (WSB) is a strategy whereby adults walk with a group of children to and from school along a fixed route. This study assessed whether school-organized WSB programs varied by school characteristics, district policies, and state laws.Methods:School data were gathered by mail-back surveys in nationally representative samples of U.S. public elementary schools during the 2008−2009 and 2009−2010 school years (n = 632 and 666, respectively). Corresponding district policies and state laws were obtained.Results:Nationwide, 4.2% of schools organized a WSB program during 2008−2009, increasing to 6.2% by 2009−2010. Controlling for demographic covariates, schools were more likely to organize a WSB program where there was a strong district policy pertaining to safe active routes to school (OR = 2.14, P < .05), or a state law requiring crossing guards around schools (OR = 2.72, P < .05).Conclusions:WSB programs are not common but district policies and state laws are associated with an increased likelihood of elementary schools organizing these programs. Policymaking efforts may encourage schools to promote active transportation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esme Fuller-Thomson ◽  
Kaitlyn E. N. Howden ◽  
Lilia R. Fuller-Thomson ◽  
Senyo Agbeyaka

Factors associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among never-smokers have received little research attention. One potential risk factor for COPD is obesity, which is of particular importance in light of the global obesity epidemic. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between COPD and levels of obesity in a nationally representative sample of non-Hispanic white never-smokers. Data were drawn from the 2012 Center for Disease Control’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Pearson’s chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted in a large nationally representative sample of non-Hispanic white respondents aged 50 and over (76,004 women; 37,618 men) who reported that they had never smoked. A dose-response relationship was observed for both men and women: the prevalence of COPD increased from 2.5% in men and 3.5% in women who were of a healthy weight (BMI < 25) to 7.6% in men and 13.4% in women who had a BMI of 40 or higher. Even after adjusting for 7 potential confounds (e.g., age, education, and income), the odds of COPD were 3.21 higher for men (95% CI = 2.46, 4.20) and 4.00 higher for women with class III obesity (95% CI = 3.52, 4.55) in comparison with those of healthy weight. Regular screening for COPD is warranted in never-smoking obese patients who are aged 50 and over. Future research is needed to investigate plausible mechanisms for this association, including (1) the role of chronic inflammation associated with obesity and (2) the impact of central obesity on respiratory system mechanics.


SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A86-A86
Author(s):  
S Iao ◽  
K Shedden ◽  
E C Jansen ◽  
L M O’Brien ◽  
R D Chervin ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Sleep hygiene recommendations discourage eating close to bedtime, though published data on the impact are not consistent. Associations between eating or drinking, within 1-hour prior to bedtime, sleep duration and sleep fragmentation were examined in a nationally-representative sample. Methods Data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), administered to a nationally representative sample of n=201,151 US residents aged ≥15 years were utilized. In an annual phone interview, ATUS participants were asked to record their activities during a 24-hour period (04:00am to 04:00am on the interview day) and were randomly selected to report weekdays or weekend activities. The present analysis included data from 2003–2018 and restricted to weekday respondents (n=124,242). Reporting of eating/drinking activities within 1-hour prior to bedtime was considered as a dichotomous variable (yes/no). Sleep fragmentation was defined as any awakening during the primary sleep episode (yes/no). Linear and logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, cohabitation, education and employment, were used to examine associations between eating/drinking and sleep duration or sleep fragmentation. Results In this ATUS sample, 56% of respondents were female and the mean age was 45 years. Mean sleep duration was 8.02 (0.007) hours, and 6% of survey participants ate/drank within 1-hour prior to bedtime. Overall, eating/drinking within 1-hour prior to bedtime was associated with longer sleep duration (p&lt;0.01). Women and men who ate/drank within 1-hour prior to bedtime, in comparison to those who did not, had 35 minutes and 26 minutes longer sleep duration (p- value&lt;0.0001) Eating/drinking activities within 1-hour prior to bedtime were associated with 1.8 higher odds of fragmented sleep (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion In this large population-based survey, weekday eating or drinking within 1-hour prior to bedtime was associated with sleep fragmentation and longer sleep duration. Causal pathways would be difficult to discern, though sleep fragmentation could lead to compensatory increases in sleep duration. Support None


Field Methods ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridget Kelly ◽  
Marjorie Margolis ◽  
Lauren McCormack ◽  
Patricia A. LeBaron ◽  
Dhuly Chowdhury

The literature on factors that influence participation in qualitative research is lacking. We conducted an experiment with a nationally representative sample to test the impact of different incentive types and amounts on willingness to participate in a hypothetical qualitative interview. We randomized participants from an online panel to one of the five versions of a recruitment ad: no incentive, a nonmonetary incentive, US$25, US$50, or US$75 ( N = 4,136). All three monetary incentives resulted in greater willingness to participate than no incentive or a nonmonetary incentive. No differences emerged between no incentive and a nonmonetary incentive (drawing for noncash prize). Among those who had at least some willingness, US$75 produced more willingness than US$25. The US$50 and US$75 amounts did not differ. Results suggest incentives matter in achieving participation in qualitative research, but there may be diminishing returns. Nonmonetary incentives may not result in higher participation than no incentive at all.


2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 763-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Glenn Weaver ◽  
Collin Webster ◽  
Catherine Egan ◽  
Carolina Campos ◽  
Robert D Michael ◽  
...  

Objective: This study assessed the impact of Partnerships for Active Children in Elementary Schools (PACES) on children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during physical education (PE) and teachers’ incorporation of physical activity promotion strategies after one academic semester (i.e. 4 months) of the intervention. Design: Single group pre–post pilot study. Setting: Three elementary schools in one southeastern metropolitan city in the USA. Methods: Using principles of community-based participatory-research, researchers worked with teachers to identify contextually appropriate physical activity promotion strategies aligned with prevailing recommendations, principles and theories. Outcome measures included accelerometer-derived percent of time children ( N = 150) engaged in MVPA. The System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time+ assessed changes in teachers’ incorporation of physical activity promotion strategies. Multi-level mixed-effects linear regression estimated differences over time. Results: MVPA increased for girls (22.7%–26.6%) and boys (33.2%–39.0%). Small-sided games (1.0%–9.0%) and teachers’ verbal promotion of physical activity (6.4%–13.5%) increased while student’s off-task behaviour (6.0%–2.0%) decreased. Lines (20.2%–8.4%) and elimination games (21.6%–13.3%) decreased, but these changes were not statistically significant. Conclusion: PACES shows promise for increasing the percent of time children spend in MVPA during PE but requires further evaluation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 132 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 81S-87S ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon L. Barrett-Williams ◽  
Padra Franks ◽  
Christi Kay ◽  
Adria Meyer ◽  
Kelly Cornett ◽  
...  

Objective: Power Up for 30 (PU30) is a schoolwide intervention that encourages schools to provide an additional 30 minutes of physical activity during the school day, beyond physical education. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of PU30 on Georgia public elementary schools and their students. Methods: A total of 719 of 1320 public elementary schools in Georgia that were sent a baseline survey about school physical activity during October 2013 to September 2014 completed the survey, 160 of which were asked to complete a second survey. In the interim (March to June 2015), half (80) of these schools implemented the PU30 program. The interim surveys, which were completed during March to June 2015, assessed opportunities for student physical activity and staff member professional development focused on student physical activity. Results: Compared with schools that had not implemented the program, more schools using the PU30 program reported offering before- and after-school physical activity programs. Forty-four of 78 (57%) PU30 schools compared with 20 of 53 (38%) non-PU30 schools offered before-school physical activity programs. Likewise, more PU30 schools than non-PU30 schools offered after-school physical activity programs (35% vs 16%), and a greater proportion of students at PU30 schools compared with non-PU30 schools met fitness benchmarks: recess 5 days per week (91% [288 of 323] vs 80% [273 of 341]), offering ≥11 minutes per day of classroom-based physical activity (39% [53 of 136] vs 25% [47 of 189] for kindergarten through second grade; 20% [37 of 187] vs 6% [9 of 152] for grades 3 through 5), and receiving physical activity–related professional development time (42% [136 of 323] vs 14% [48 of 341]). Conclusions: The surveys provided a statewide picture of the physical activity opportunities offered to students and staff members in Georgia elementary schools and demonstrated the effective use of a comprehensive, multicomponent program to offer more school-based physical activity opportunities and to improve student fitness.


1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 1111-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. B. CARNELLEY ◽  
C. B. WORTMAN ◽  
R. C. KESSLER

Background. We investigated the impact of widowhood on depression and how resources and contextual factors that define the meaning of loss modified this effect.Method. In a prospective, nationally representative sample of women in the US aged 54 or older we compared 64 women who were widowed in the 3 years between data collection waves with 431 women who were stably married over the time interval.Results. Those who became widowed reported more depression than controls for 2 years following the loss. However, this effect was confined to respondents whose husbands were not ill at baseline. Widowed women whose husbands were ill at baseline already had elevated depression in the baseline interview and did not become significantly more depressed after the death. Consistent with this result, women who were not depressed pre-bereavement were most vulnerable to depression following the loss of an ill spouse during the first year of widowhood.Conclusions. Results suggest that spouses' illness may forewarn wives of their impending loss and these women may begin to grieve before his death. Those forewarned women who are not depressed pre-bereavement may experience the most post-bereavement depression. Findings are discussed in light of previous, more methodologically limited studies.


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