title: The impact of 10-minute activity breaks outside the classroom on male students' on-task behaviour and sustained attention: a randomised crossover design.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to evaluate the impact of a brief activity bout outside the classroom on boys' attention and on-task behaviour in the classroom setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight boys (mean age 11.2 ± 0.6 years) were recruited from a boys' elementary school in Adelaide, South Australia. Two year 5 and, similarly, two year 6 classes were assigned using a crossover design to either four weeks of a 10 minute Active Lesson Break followed by four weeks of a 10 minute Passive Lesson Break (reading) or visa versa. Attention was quantified using a computerised psychomotor vigilance task, and on-task behaviour by direct observation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither the Active Lesson nor the Passive Lesson condition significantly affected sustained attention or on-task behaviour, and there were no significant differences between conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no impact on participants' sustained attention or on-task behaviour after a short activity break between lessons. Brief activity breaks outside the classroom do not compromise participants' on-task behaviour or attention levels upon returning to the classroom, although improvement in these variables is not seen either. However, the results suggest that active breaks are effective for accruing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity without compromising classroom behaviours.
authors.affiliation: Samson Institute for Health Research - Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Samson Institute for Health Research - Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olds
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lushington
authors.affiliation: Centre for Regional Engagement, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petkov
authors.affiliation: Samson Institute for Health Research - Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dollman
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Elementary students; On-task behaviour; Physical activity; School based; Sustained attention