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. 2017 Jan:94:40-47.
doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.11.010. Epub 2016 Nov 14.

Sedentary behaviour across the primary-secondary school transition: A systematic review

Natalie Pearson  1 , Emma Haycraft  1 , Julie P Johnston  2 , Andrew J Atkin  3
Affiliations

Sedentary behaviour across the primary-secondary school transition: A systematic review

Natalie Pearson et al. Prev Med. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

The transition from primary/middle school to secondary/high school is likely to be a key period in children's development, characterised by significant changes in their social and physical environment. However, little is known about the changes in sedentary behaviour that accompany this transition. This review aimed to identify, critically appraise and summarise the evidence on changes in sedentary behaviour across the primary - secondary school transition. Published English language studies were located from computerised and manual searches in 2015. Inclusion criteria specified a longitudinal design, baseline assessment when children were in primary/middle school with at least one follow-up during secondary/high school and a measure of sedentary behaviour at both (or all) points of assessment. Based on data from 11 articles (19 independent samples), tracking coefficients were typically in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 and relatively consistent across the different sedentary behaviours examined and durations of follow-up. Both screen-based sedentary behaviour and overall sedentary time increased during the school transition. Overall there was an increase of approximately 10-20min per day per year in accelerometer-assessed sedentary time. Consistent with the broader age-related changes in behaviour observed during this period, sedentary behaviour increases during the transition from primary/middle to secondary/high school. Investigating features of the social and physical environment that might exacerbate or attenuate this trend would be a valuable next step.

Keywords: Adolescents; Children; School; Sedentary behaviour; Television; Tracking.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flow of information through different phases of the systematic review
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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