title: Step-count promotion through a school-based intervention.
abstract: The purpose was to determine the effects of a school-based pedometer intervention (SBPI) on daily accrued steps, academic performance, attendance, tardiness, and fitness performance in middle school students. Students from one, public middle school were assigned to a control (n = 46) or a 6-week SBPI (n = 46). Both groups recorded daily accrued pedometer steps. Grade point average (GPA), tardiness, absenteeism, and physical fitness scores were assessed. While baseline daily accrued step-counts were similar (p = NS), SBPI significantly increased daily accrued step-counts versus control (p < 0.05). During the study interval, academic performance increased in both groups, while SBPI had reduced tardiness (p < 0.05) and a tendency for reduced absenteeism (p = 0.06) postintervention. Shuttle and mile run performance decreased from pre- to postintervention in both groups. These data suggest that SBPI can increase physical activity levels and decrease tardiness in middle school students, without translating into short-term improvements in academic or physical fitness performance.
authors.affiliation: Licensed Professional Counselor, Montgomeryville, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shore
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological, Organizational, & Leadership Studies in Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: DuCette
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA jlibonat@nursing.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Libonati
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016138:Walking
keywords: child and adolescent health; exercise; health educators; physical fitness and sport