Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40770619›Full record

SynthesisBMC public health2025

Correlates of physical activity and sedentary behavior in children and adolescents during school recess: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Kang Zhu, Xinyi Yin, Yucheng Liu, Guoyang Qin, Jingjing Jia, Zhenwen Xie, Yang Liu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Kang ZhuSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Xinyi YinSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Yucheng LiuSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Guoyang QinSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Jingjing JiaSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Zhenwen XieSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Yang LiuSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China. docliuyang@hotmail.com.

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China 2023YFC3305801Program for Overseas High-level Talents at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning TP2022102Shanghai Key Laboratory of Human Performance 11DZ2261100
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPhysical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SED) during school recess in children and adolescents are associated with numerous factors, such as age, gender, and adult engagement. Identifying these correlates can inform the design of recess programs and interventions in schools, while also providing evidence to support the establishment of future recess-related policies. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the correlates of PA and SED in children and adolescents during school recess.

methodsA systematic search was conducted for studies published in PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science from May 2011 to December 2024. We conducted three rounds of literature screening, including removing duplicates, screening titles and abstracts, and full-text screening. This study followed the PRISMA guidelines. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The effect of interventions on PA and SED was assessed by random effects meta-analysis. Identified factors were categorized using the social ecological model.

results72 studies were included in this systematic review. Multiple factors, including age, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), family economic status, length and frequency of school recess, structured recess, provision of exercise equipment, and playground markings, have been identified as being positively associated with PA among children and adolescents during school recess. Gender factors are also associated with SED. The meta-analysis included 6 studies. Overall results indicated that interventions implemented during school recess had an impact on Light PA (SMD = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.14, 0.93; I²=83%), Moderate PA (SMD = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.16, 0.60; I²=25%), Vigorous PA (SMD = 0.26; 95% CI = 0.09, 0.44; I²=0%), and Moderate-to-Vigorous PA (SMD = 0.49; 95% CI = 0.09, 0.88; I²=86%) in children and adolescents. However, there was no statistically significant effect of the intervention on SED (SMD=-0.54; 95% CI=-1.15, -0.06; I²=91%) (P > 0.05).

conclusionThis review identified several individual, social, physical environment, and organizational and policy level factors that correlate with PA among children and adolescents during school recess. However, it found a correlation only between gender at the individual level and SED. Therefore, future research should focus more on the relationship between social, physical environment, and organizational and policy level factors and SED among children and adolescents during school recess.

Indexed as

ExerciseSchoolsSedentary BehaviorAdolescentChildFemaleHumansMaleChildren and adolescentsCorrelatesPhysical activitySchool recessSedentary behavior

Identifiers

PMID40770619
PMCPMC12326734

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.