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. 2024 Feb 13:7:100480.
doi: 10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100480. eCollection 2024 Jun.

"And I still remember it to this day": A qualitative exploration of retrospective memories of school-based recess

Maya Trajkovski  1 , Deanna Perez  1 , Sara Tobias  1 , William V Massey  1
Affiliations

"And I still remember it to this day": A qualitative exploration of retrospective memories of school-based recess

Maya Trajkovski et al. Public Health Pract (Oxf). .

Abstract

Objectives: Previous research has shown the most common memory of physical education (PE) was embarrassment, and that childhood memories of PE relate to physical activity (PA) attitude, intention, and sedentary behavior in adulthood [13]. Recess memories may have a similar effect on adult attitudes towards PA, given that recess is a physically active part of the school day, yet is more autonomous and less supervised than PE. Recent literature has supported this, as Massey and colleagues (2021b) reported memories of recess enjoyment were associated with PA enjoyment in adulthood, whereas negative recess memories were associated with social isolation. In an effort to better understand recess memories, and how they may be related to adult behaviors, the purpose of this study was to examine qualitative descriptions of adults' worst recess memories as it related to physical and social health.

Study design: Mixed methods design; inductive content analysis and analysis of covariance.

Methods: As part of a larger project, 433 participants between the ages of 19 and 77 (M = 44.91; SD = 15.35) were asked to recall their worst recess memories and the grades in which those memories occurred. Participants identified as predominantly female (52%), White (72%), and college educated (46%). Data analysis was conducted via an inductive content analysis by three research team members.

Results: The most common negative memories included isolating experiences, physical injuries, victimization, and contextual factors (e.g., weather). Through a series of analysis of covariance, self-reported isolation and self-efficacy of exercise were significantly related to participants with social isolation and physical injury memories respectively.

Conclusions: This study adds to a growing line of research documenting the importance of recess as a developmentally impactful environment with implications for physical and emotional health.

Keywords: Children; Development; Risky play; School health; Social isolation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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