Zhanjia Zhang *, Zhonghui He **, Mengyi Wei *, Donnia Thomas *, Brooke Callaghan * and Weiyun Chen *
(*) School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI, USA
(**) Department of Physical Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
Citation
Zhang, Z., He, Z., Wei, M., Thomas, D., Callaghan, B., Chen, W. (2019). The acute effects of a 25-min afternoon physical activity class on attentional performance in Chinese elementary school children. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 50(1), 26-37. doi:10.7352/IJSP.2019.50.026
Abstract
Physical activity (PA) has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects on children’s attention and academic performance. This study examined the acute effects of a 25-min afternoon PA class on attentional performance in Chinese elementary school children. One hundred and five children were randomly assigned into experimental group or control group. The experimental group took a 25- minute PA class in the afternoon, while the control group was given a lecture on exercise-related topics during the same time. Both groups were tested attentional performance before and immediately after the PA class or lecture using the d2-Test of Attention. The results showed children’s attentional performance improved significantly following a 25-minute afternoon PA class, but such improvement was no greater than following a lecture on a fresh topic, and did not differ between genders. Schools might consider implementing afternoon PA classes as a means of promoting children’s health while without compromising attentional performance.
Keywords: Acute Physical Activity, Attention, and Concentration