Decreasing Sedentary Behavior: Effects on Academic Performance, Meta-Cognition, and Sleep

Abstract

There is growing interest in using activity workstations as a method of increasing light physical activity in normally sedentary environments. The current study (N = 117) compared the effects of studying in college students while slowly pedaling a stationary bike with a desktop with studying at traditional desks across 10 weeks in an academic semester. The students were assigned to study either on the stationary bike or at a traditional desk located in the campus library for a minimum of 2 h a week. During the 10 weeks, the students studied for tests or worked on other required academic activities while working at their assigned desk. In addition, the participants completed a pre survey, weekly surveys, and a post survey. We found that although students studying at the traditional desks reported more ease of studying and more effective studying than those using the stationary bikes, the two groups performed equally well on tests in an introductory psychology course. Moreover, the students using the traditional desks reported a decrease in sleep quality later in the semester while those using the activity workstation reported stable levels of sleep quality. The current results indicate that activity workstations could be implemented in university settings to encourage light physical activity without negatively affecting academic performance while providing possible long-term health and well-being benefits. Furthermore, the results suggests that activity workstations could be a means of combating sedentary behavior in environments where individuals are expected to sit either while waiting (e.g., doctor's waiting rooms, airports) or when completing a necessary task (e.g., the workplace, educational settings).

A classroom-based physical activity intervention for adolescents: Is there an effect on self-efficacy, physical activity, and on-task behavior?

“…Further, treatment, heart rate, and their interaction were found to be significant across time points. This result is similar to prior studies with adolescents, indicating that when given the opportunity to exercise, students will do so (Deforche, Van Dyck, Verloigne, & De Bourdeaudhuij, 2010;Fedewa, Abel, & Erwin, 2017;Pilcher, Morris, Bryant, Merritt, & Feigl, 2017).…”

Does type of active workstation matter? A randomized comparison of cognitive and typing performance between rest, cycling, and treadmill active workstations

“…The lack of decreased performance in areas such as cognitive control, attention, and typing between seated conditions and an active workstation in the current study supports a consideration of active workstation implementation for not only the workplace but environments that would benefit from breaks in sedentary behavior, including classrooms [50]. Given the documented health benefits of walking or cycling during work, the absence of considerable detriments to cognitive performance would seem to suggest that the use of alternative workstations is beneficial to traditionally sedentary environments [51].…”

Biking to Academic Success: A Study on a Bike Desk Implementation at an Academic Library

“…Benefits of exercise while performing work tasks or schoolwork are evident in the literature. Bryant et al (2015) and Pilcher et al (2017) published about research performed at Clemson University in which they studied the effects of light activity (the use of Bike Desks) on academic performance and sleep quality. While Soyeur, Unalan, and Elmali (2010) reported that fatigue is related to impaired academic performance (as cited in Nagane, 2004), Bryant et al found that those who rode the bikes while performing schoolwork maintained better sleep quality, which correlated positively with academic performance.…”

“…Light activity on Bike Desks can help with this as bicycling can burn 100-200 calories per hour (Villablanca, 2015, p. 514). Pilcher et al (2017) reported that in addition to addressing obesity and heart disease, research has shown that light or moderate activity may decrease anxiety (as cited in Fox, 1999) and lead to an improved quality of life (as cited in Oka et al, 2000). The Kresge Library purchased two bikes "as an alternative, health-oriented work station, in keeping with the wellness goals of Oakland University" (Pedal, 2016).…”

“…Soyeur, Unalan, and Elmali (2010) attributed this to students possessing greater freedom when they begin college and having more control over their lifestyles than previously. Pilcher, Morris, Bryant, Merritt, and Feigl (2017) stated that many college students lead "largely sedentary lives due to their time in class and time studying" (p. 2) while Towne et al cite another cause, having proclaimed that the "growing use of technology has been suggested as a possible contributor to lower physical activity levels among the global community" (as cited in Ng & Popkin, 2012). Potential use of laptops and other mobile devices while using a Bike Desk could very well address this issue as alluded to in the research of Dinger (1999), which stated that "proximity and convenience are important determinants of physical activity participation" and has suggested exploring "possible ways to make physical activity participation more convenient for all students" (p. 147).…”