Using Goal Setting to Increase Children's Recess Physical Activity

Background/Purpose: Unstructured recess can contribute significantly to youth’s daily physical activity (Beighle et al., 2006). Goal setting is an effective means for increasing behavior performance outcomes (Bandura, 1989), but has not yet been utilized to increase children’s recess physical activity levels. It has also been determined the most effective goals are those that are specific and difficult, yet attainable (Locke & Latham, 2002). The purpose of this study was to determine if goal setting would increase children’s physical activity intensity and percent of time in physical activity during an otherwise unstructured recess.

Method: Participants included 139 elementary students (67 girls) from one Southeastern school. Pedometers measured PA during one recess period each day over the course of four school weeks. Three conditions existed: Week 1: baseline, Week 2: Feedback (children could view pedometer steps), Week 3: Washout (no feedback), and Week 4: goal setting (goal with feedback).

Analysis/Results: A repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to determine the effect of goal setting on physical activity intensity and percent of time in physical activity. No significant differences in participants’ physical activity intensity existed among all conditions [F(3,414) = 1.10, p = .35]. Participants’ percent time in physical activity revealed significant time effects [F(3,414) = 7.67, p = .01] between goal setting week and washout and feedback weeks (p =.01) with goal setting week having the highest percent time in physical activity (67.54%, SD= 15.77%). Physical activity intensity and percent time in physical activity were highest in 4^th graders.

Conclusions: Boys and 4^th graders had the highest physical activity. Although not significant, the increase in percent time in physical activity during goal setting suggested that rather than increasing physical activity intensity levels over a shorter time point, students extended their physical activity over longer bouts of time. Goal setting in children was an effective recess intervention.