School and individual-level characteristics are associated with children’s moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity during school recess

Objective: The objective of this studywas to identify school environmentalcharacteristics associated with moderateto vigorous physical activity during schoolrecess, including morning and lunchbreaks.Methods: Accelerometry data, childlevelcharacteristics and school physicalactivity, policy and socio-cultural datawere collected from 408 sixth gradechildren (mean age 11 years) attending27 metropolitan primary schools in Perth,Western Australia. Hierarchical modellingidentified key characteristics associatedwith children’s recess moderate to vigorousphysical activity (RMVPA).Results: Nearly 40% of variability inchildren’s RMVPA was explained by schoolenvironment and individual characteristicsidentified in this study. Children’s higherdaily RMVPA was associated with newerschools, schools with a higher numberof grassed surfaces per child and fewershaded grassed surfaces, and the physicaleducation coordinator meeting Australianphysical activity guidelines.Conclusions: Characteristics of the schoolphysical and social environments arestrongly correlated with children’s MPVAduring recess.Implications: The school environment isan ideal target for maximising children’sphysical activity during recess. Futureresearch could examine the impactof modifying these environmentalcharacteristics on children’s schoolphysical activity.