title: The importance of cohesion and enjoyment for the fitness improvement of 8-10-year-old children participating in a team and individual sport school-based physical activity intervention.
abstract: This study investigates the enjoyment and cohesion of school children participating in a school-based high-intensity physical activity (PA) intervention. Both enjoyment and cohesion have been found to be important factors for adherence to regular physical and sport activity, an important outcome of PA interventions. The sample consisted of 300 pupils (mean age: 9.3 years; 52.7% female) assigned to a team sport intervention, an individual sport intervention, or a control group for 10 months. The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale and Youth Sport Environment Questionnaire were used to measure enjoyment and cohesion. The Yo-Yo IR1C test determined fitness improvements. Results showed that enjoyment and cohesion (social) measured at the beginning of the intervention significantly predict fitness improvements achieved after 10 months. No differing developmental effects over time could be found in the intervention groups with regard to cohesion and enjoyment when comparing them to the control group. However, enjoyment and cohesion (social) significantly decreased in the groups that performed individual sports. Team sports seem to be more advantageous for the development of enjoyment and cohesion, which are both factors that positively impact the health outcomes of the intervention.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Copenhagen Centre of Team Sport and Health, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Elbe
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Copenhagen Centre of Team Sport and Health, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Johan Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wikman
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Copenhagen Centre of Team Sport and Health, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Miky
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Copenhagen Centre of Team Sport and Health, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Malte Nejst
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Copenhagen Centre of Team Sport and Health, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: b Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark.|c Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter , Exeter , UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krustrup
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012420:Running; D012919:Social Behavior; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Yo-Yo IR1C test; running; strength training; team sports