The effects of school-based physical activity interventions on students’ health-related fitness knowledge: A systematic review

Publication date: Available online 3 August 2015 Source:Educational Research Review Author(s): Yolanda Demetriou, Gorden Sudeck, Ansgar Thiel, Oliver Höner This systematic review includes 34 studies examining the effects of school-based physical activity interventions on students’ health-related fitness knowledge. The study design, methodological quality, and effectiveness of interventions on students’ health-related fitness knowledge were analysed. The majority of the studies (79.4%) revealed significant positive intervention effects on students’ health-related fitness knowledge. Studies examining adolescents were more frequently in a position to influence students’ health-related fitness knowledge (87.5%) than studies examining children (75%), and studies with low methodological quality (88.8%) had more frequent positive effects than studies with moderate quality (75%). The effects on students’ health-related fitness knowledge were independent of moderator variables such as the intervention content, duration and frequency. Only few studies were able to simultaneously positively influence students’ health-related fitness knowledge and students’ physical activity and/or fitness levels. These programmes can positively influence students’ health-related fitness knowledge, but it remains unclear what the practical significance of these changes is. Further research is needed to clarify the influence of students’ health-related fitness knowledge on r...
Source: Educational Research Review - Category: Child Development Source Type: research