title: Effectiveness of a personalized fitness module on knowledge, attitude, and cardiovascular endurance of fifth-grade students: "heart smart".
abstract: The effectiveness of a Personalized Fitness Module was compared to a Traditional Fitness Unit, both of which were designed to develop knowledge, behavioral skills, fitness and positive attitudes. 95 students in Grade 5 and from intact physical education/health classes within two public schools participated in a seven-week cardiovascular fitness program. The experimental group of 48 participated in the personalized and noncompetitive fitness module. The control group of 47 participated in the traditional unit, a teacher-centered fitness module. Students received a total of 14 55-min. lessons over seven weeks. Pre- and posttest measurements included the Superkids-Superfit Knowledge Test, the Children's Attitudes Toward Physical Activity Inventory, and the one-mile run/walk. Data were analyzed using group mean gain scores on eight dependent variables (knowledge, six subscales of attitude, and one-mile run/walk) followed by a multivariate analysis of variance. A significant difference between groups led to a discriminant function analysis as a post hoc test. Findings indicated that the use of the personalized unit can substantially improve one-mile run/walk time. The use of modules of this type in health and physical education programs may promote life-long exercise patterns and fitness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Kennesaw State College.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mott
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Virgilio
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Berenson
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness