title: Association of environment and policy characteristics on children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and time spent sedentary in afterschool programs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Afterschool programs are an important setting in which to promote children's physical activity. This study examines the association of environmental and policy characteristics on the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior of children attending afterschool programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1302 children attending 20 afterschool programs across South Carolina wore accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X+) for up to 4non-consecutive days. Policy-level characteristics were evaluated using the Healthy Afterschool Program Index-Physical Activity scale. Physical activity space was measured using a measuring wheel (indoor, ft(2)) and Geographical Information Systems software (outdoor, acres). The structure (free-play or organized) of activity opportunities was evaluated via direct observation. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary, both indoors and outdoors, was estimated using accelerometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For every 5000 ft(2) of utilized indoor activity space an additional 2.4 and 3.3 min/day of sedentary behavior was observed among boys and girls, respectively. A higher ratio of free-play to organized play was associated with higher indoor sedentary behavior among boys and girls (3.9 min/day and 10.0 min/day, respectively). For every 1 acre of outdoor activity space used, an additional 2.7 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was observed for boys. A higher free-play to organized play ratio was associated with higher outdoor moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for boys and girls (4.4 and 3.4 min/day increase, respectively). Policy characteristics were unrelated to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels and time spent sedentary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that policies and size of activity space had limited influence on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior, suggesting that a programmatic structure may be a more effective option to improve moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels of children attending afterschool programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States. Electronic address: ajja@email.sc.edu.
authors.forename: Rahma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ajja
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States.
authors.forename: Morgan N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Clennin
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States.
authors.forename: R Glenn
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States.
authors.forename: Justin B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Huberty
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
authors.forename: Dianne S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States.
authors.forename: Russell R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pate
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Beets
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit; D010988:Play and Playthings; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012574:Schools; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013022:South Carolina; D013995:Time
keywords: Afterschool; Children; Environment; Physical activity; Policy