IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i11p3976-d367066.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Attentiveness and Fidgeting While Using a Stand-Biased Desk in Elementary School Children

Author

Listed:
  • Ann M. Swartz

    (Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
    Center for Aging and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA)

  • Nathan R. Tokarek

    (Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA)

  • Scott J. Strath

    (Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
    Center for Aging and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA)

  • Krista M. Lisdahl

    (Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA)

  • Chi C. Cho

    (Center for Aging and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA)

Abstract

Standing desks are a viable option to decrease sedentary time in the classroom. However, it is important that standing desks are not detrimental to classroom behavior or learning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of stand-biased desks on fidgeting and attentiveness. Ninety-seven students in grades 3, 4, and 6 (ages 8–12 years) volunteered to participate in this study. The intervention employed a within-classroom crossover design, with teacher-determined allocation for seating within each classroom and included the replacement of one-half of the traditional sitting desks with stand-biased desks. Direct observation of student’s attentive and fidgeting behaviors occurred at three assessment periods, at baseline when all students were in a sitting desk condition and at the end of each nine-week intervention. Stand-biased desks did not influence fidgeting behavior, but did have an impact on attentive behavior. Students that were less attentive at baseline had a 40–80% increase incidence rate in non-attentive behavior while in the traditional desk as compared to the stand-biased desk after the intervention. While fidgeting and non-attentive episodes ( p = 0.034) were significantly related, the type of desk did not significantly moderate this relationship ( p = 0.810). Standing desks can be incorporated into the classroom without negatively influencing classroom behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Ann M. Swartz & Nathan R. Tokarek & Scott J. Strath & Krista M. Lisdahl & Chi C. Cho, 2020. "Attentiveness and Fidgeting While Using a Stand-Biased Desk in Elementary School Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:11:p:3976-:d:367066
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/11/3976/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/11/3976/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ann M. Swartz & Nathan R. Tokarek & Krista Lisdahl & Hotaka Maeda & Scott J. Strath & Chi C. Cho, 2019. "Do Stand-Biased Desks in the Classroom Change School-Time Activity and Sedentary Behavior?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Mark E. Benden & Hongwei Zhao & Christina E. Jeffrey & Monica L. Wendel & Jamilia J. Blake, 2014. "The Evaluation of the Impact of a Stand-Biased Desk on Energy Expenditure and Physical Activity for Elementary School Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Benden, M.E. & Blake, J.J. & Wendel, M.L. & Huber, J.C., 2011. "The impact of stand-biased desks in classrooms on calorie expenditure in children," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(8), pages 1433-1436.
    4. Ranjana K. Mehta & Ashley E. Shortz & Mark E. Benden, 2015. "Standing Up for Learning: A Pilot Investigation on the Neurocognitive Benefits of Stand-Biased School Desks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nathan R. Tokarek & Chi C. Cho & Scott J. Strath & Ann M. Swartz, 2022. "The Impact of Stand-Biased Desks on Afterschool Physical Activity Behaviors of Elementary School Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-12, June.
    2. Terry Guirado & Camille Chambonnière & Jean-Philippe Chaput & Lore Metz & David Thivel & Martine Duclos, 2021. "Effects of Classroom Active Desks on Children and Adolescents’ Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Academic Achievements and Overall Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-31, March.
    3. Paula Schwenke & Michaela Coenen, 2022. "Influence of Sit-Stand Tables in Classrooms on Children’s Sedentary Behavior and Teacher’s Acceptance and Feasibility: A Mixed-Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Katharina Wick & Oliver Faude & Susanne Manes & Lukas Zahner & Lars Donath, 2018. "I Can Stand Learning: A Controlled Pilot Intervention Study on the Effects of Increased Standing Time on Cognitive Function in Primary School Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-12, February.
    5. Mara Kirschner & Rianne H.J. Golsteijn & Sanne M. Sijben & Amika S. Singh & Hans H.C.M. Savelberg & Renate H.M. de Groot, 2021. "A Qualitative Study of the Feasibility and Acceptability of Implementing ‘Sit-To-Stand’ Desks in Vocational Education and Training," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-16, January.
    6. Ann M. Swartz & Nathan R. Tokarek & Krista Lisdahl & Hotaka Maeda & Scott J. Strath & Chi C. Cho, 2019. "Do Stand-Biased Desks in the Classroom Change School-Time Activity and Sedentary Behavior?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Roberto M. Benzo & Allene L. Gremaud & Matthew Jerome & Lucas J. Carr, 2016. "Learning to Stand: The Acceptability and Feasibility of Introducing Standing Desks into College Classrooms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-11, August.
    8. Alexander L. Wallace & Ann M. Swartz & Chi C. Cho & Christine M. Kaiver & Ryan M. Sullivan & Krista M. Lisdahl, 2022. "Stand-Biased Desks Impact on Cognition in Elementary Students Using a Within-Classroom Crossover Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-10, May.
    9. Ana María Contardo Ayala & Jo Salmon & Anna Timperio & Bronwyn Sudholz & Nicola D. Ridgers & Parneet Sethi & David W. Dunstan, 2016. "Impact of an 8-Month Trial Using Height-Adjustable Desks on Children’s Classroom Sitting Patterns and Markers of Cardio-Metabolic and Musculoskeletal Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Aron P. Sherry & Natalie Pearson & Nicola D. Ridgers & William Johnson & Sally E. Barber & Daniel D. Bingham & Liana C. Nagy & Stacy A. Clemes, 2020. "Impacts of a Standing Desk Intervention within an English Primary School Classroom: A Pilot Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-18, September.
    11. Tetsuhiro Kidokoro & Yasuo Shimizu & Kanako Edamoto & Michael Annear, 2019. "Classroom Standing Desks and Time-Series Variation in Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity among Primary School Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-12, May.
    12. Ranjana K. Mehta & Ashley E. Shortz & Mark E. Benden, 2015. "Standing Up for Learning: A Pilot Investigation on the Neurocognitive Benefits of Stand-Biased School Desks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    13. Joohyun Rhee & Mark E. Benden, 2019. "Stand-Biased Desk Intervention on Sleep Quality of High School Students: A Pilot Study Using Tri-Axial Accelerometery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-7, December.
    14. Nirjhar Dutta & Gabriel A. Koepp & Steven D. Stovitz & James A. Levine & Mark A. Pereira, 2014. "Using Sit-Stand Workstations to Decrease Sedentary Time in Office Workers: A Randomized Crossover Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-13, June.
    15. Yu-Ling Chen & Keith Tolfrey & Natalie Pearson & Daniel D. Bingham & Charlotte Edwardson & Lorraine Cale & David Dunstan & Sally E. Barber & Stacy A. Clemes, 2021. "Stand Out in Class: Investigating the Potential Impact of a Sit–Stand Desk Intervention on Children’s Sitting and Physical Activity during Class Time and after School," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-14, April.
    16. Nastja Podrekar & Kaja Kastelic & Nejc Šarabon, 2020. "Teachers’ Perspective on Strategies to Reduce Sedentary Behavior in Educational Institutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-11, November.
    17. Jolyn Ee & Sharon Parry & Beatriz IR de Oliveira & Joanne A. McVeigh & Erin Howie & Leon Straker, 2018. "Does a Classroom Standing Desk Intervention Modify Standing and Sitting Behaviour and Musculoskeletal Symptoms during School Time and Physical Activity during Waking Time?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-13, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:11:p:3976-:d:367066. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.