Uninterrupted Classroom Sitting is Associated with Increased Discomfort and Sleepiness Among College Students

Abstract

Acute bouts of uninterrupted sitting has been associated with discomfort and fatigue in adult populations. However, little is known regarding the impact of uninterrupted sitting on such outcomes among college students. Understanding these relations would be useful for informing best practice and future interventions. The present study explored the relation between uninterrupted sitting and perceived levels of physical discomfort and sleepiness among college students in a real classroom setting. We recruited 54 undergraduate students enrolled in a single class at a Midwestern university. Participants remained seated throughout a 2.5 h lecture while completing the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) and General Comfort Scale (GCS) every 15 min. Linear mixed effect model analyses were used to determine the relations between the independent and dependent variables and the duration at which students reported significant impairments in discomfort and/or sleepiness. Classroom sitting time was associated with increases in discomfort (r = 0.28, p < 0.01) and sleepiness (r = 0.30, p < 0.01). Students reported significant impairments in discomfort and sleepiness after 75 and 15 min, respectively. These findings support further research into the acceptability, feasibility and efficacy of interventions designed to interrupt classroom sitting on discomfort, sleepiness and measures of academic performance.

Standing Breaks in Lectures Improve University Students’ Self-Perceived Physical, Mental, and Cognitive Condition

“…Students also reported a decrease in motivation alongside becoming more tired. Similar results can be found in the study by Hosteng, Reichter, Simmering, and Carr [ 23 ], where classroom sitting time of college students was associated with a significant increase in discomfort and sleepiness.…”

Acceptability and Impact of Office-Based Resistance Exercise Breaks

“…Prolonged sitting is directly associated with increased levels of musculoskeletal discomfort, fatigue, and sleepiness at work (Baker et al, 2018; Daneshmandi et al, 2017; Hosteng et al, 2019) and perceived as detrimental to health (Gilson et al, 2011). Developing interventions to target these outcomes is important to combat issues such as the high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in the United States, with 25% reporting musculoskeletal discomfort significant enough to impact daily living (Deyo et al, 2006) and 90% of workers reporting these symptoms regardless of severity (Widanarko et al, 2011).…”

Stand up, stand out. Feasibility of an active break targeting prolonged sitting in university students

“…18,21 As uninterrupted lecture-based sitting is associated with self-reported sleepiness in students, activities of a physically active nature that result in a boost of energy and improved mental alertness are likely to positively influence perceptions of the intervention. 30 There was a high level of agreement (84.9%-93.4%) with statements relating to appropriateness, defined as the "perceived fit, relevance, or compatibility of the innovation or evidence-based practice for a given practice setting, provider, or consumer." 29 This study was carried out using a collaborative design process whereby representatives of the student population were actively sought to become members of the research team.…”