Activity Wristband-based Intermittent Teaching Unit and Students Physical Activity and Its Psychological Mediators

Effect of an Activity Wristband-based Intermittent Teaching Unit in Physical Education on Students Physical Activity and Its Psychological Mediators: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial. School-Fit Study

Objective: The main objective of the present study was to examine the effects of an intermittent teaching unit based on the use of activity wristbands and behavior modification strategies on high school students perceptions of autonomy support, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, motivation toward Physical Education and physical activity, intention to be physically active, and habitual physical activity levels.

Materials and methods: An initial sample of 353 high school students (final sample = 175; 45.7% females; mean age = 13.3 ± 1.2 years) from two public high schools were cluster-randomly assigned into the intermittent (n = 100) and control (n = 75) groups. The intermittent group performed an intermittent teaching unit twice a week for eight weeks. Specifically, the last 15 minutes of each lesson were used. As the main strategy to promote the practice of regular physical activity, students wore an activity wristband the whole day during the intervention period. Additionally, other behavior modification strategies were also applied (e.g., educational counseling, physical activity goals or reminders). The control group also performed two Physical Education sessions a week during the intervention period, but without using wristbands or other behavior modification strategies. Before and after the intervention, as well as at the end of the follow-up period (six weeks), students' physical activity practice mediators and physical activity levels were measured by validated questionnaires.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being enrolled in the seventh to tenth grade at the secondary education level
• Participating in the normal Physical Education lessons
• Being exempt of any health problem that would make them unable to engage in physical activity normally
• Presenting the corresponding signed written consent by their legal tutors
• Presenting their own corresponding signed written assent

Exclusion Criterion:

- Not having performed the evaluation of the dependent variables correctly at the pre-intervention, post-intervention and/or follow-up measures following the administration rules (being removed only for incomplete variables and not for the overall study)