[ad_1]
New research shows that school uniform policies are preventing youth, especially elementary school-aged girls, from participating in physical activities.
The University of Cambridge study used data about the physical activity participation of more than one million five to 17-year-olds internationally. It found that in countries where most schools require students to wear uniforms, fewer youth meet the 60 minutes of physical activity per day recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Also read: Physical activity can boost learning, well-being in secondary school: study
Despite similar policies, fewer girls than boys reach recommended exercise levels in most countries. However, among primary school students, the gap in activity between girls and boys was found to be greater in countries where uniforms are mandatory in most schools. Similar results were not found in secondary school-aged students.
The authors suggest that this may be explained by the fact that younger children get more casual exercise throughout the school day than older students; For example, through running, climbing and various types of active play during breaks and lunches. There is already evidence that girls feel less comfortable participating in active sports if they wear certain types of clothing, such as skirts or dresses.
Importantly, the results do not definitively prove that school uniforms limit children’s physical activity and the researchers stress that “causality cannot be inferred”. However, small previous studies provide support for these findings, showing that uniforms can create barriers. For the first time, research examines statistical evidence on a large scale to assess that claim.
The study was led by Dr Mairead Ryan, a researcher at the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Education and the MRC Epidemiology Unit.
“Schools often choose to use uniforms for a variety of reasons,” Ryan said. “We are not trying to suggest a complete ban on them, but rather to present new evidence to support decision-making. School communities can consider the design, and whether specific features of the uniforms can be used on the day.” “May or may not encourage or restrict any opportunity for physical activity.”
WHO recommends that youth should do an average of 60 minutes of at least moderate intensity physical activity per day during the week. The study confirms previous observations that most children and adolescents are not meeting this recommendation, especially girls. The difference in the percentage of boys and girls meeting physical activity guidelines across all countries was an average of 7.6 percentage points.
Existing evidence suggests that uniforms may be a factor. For example, previous concerns have been raised about girls’ PE uniforms and school sports kits. A 2021 study in England found that the design of girls’ PE uniforms prevented students from taking part in certain activities, while hockey player Tess Howard, after analyzing interview and survey data, found gender-based sports uniforms for similar reasons Proposed to redesign.
However, children often get their exercise away from PE and sports lessons. “Activities like walking or bicycling to school, breaktime games, and outdoor play after school can help youth incorporate physical activity into their daily routines,” Ryan said. “That’s why we’re interested in to what extent different elements of young people’s environments, including what they wear, encourage such behaviour.”
The study analyzed existing data on the physical activity levels of approximately 1.1 million young people aged five to 17 in 135 countries and combined it with newly collected data on how common the use of school uniforms is in these countries.
In over 75% of the countries surveyed, most schools required their students to wear uniforms. The study found that participation in physical activity was low in these countries. In countries where wearing uniforms was the norm, the average proportion of all students meeting WHO recommendations was 16%; In countries where uniforms were less prevalent, this increased to 19.5%.
There were persistent gender differences between boys’ and girls’ physical activity levels, with boys at all ages being 1.5 times more likely to meet WHO recommendations. However, this gap widened from 5.5 percentage points at the primary school level in non-uniform countries to a gap of 9.8 percentage points in countries where uniforms were required in most schools.
This finding appears to match evidence from other studies that suggests that girls are more aware of engaging in physical activity in which they do not feel comfortable when wearing a uniform. “Girls may feel less confident doing things like cartwheels and tumbles on the playground, or riding a bike on a windy day, if they wear skirts or dresses,” said senior author Dr. Esther Van Sluijs, an MRC investigator. ” “Social norms and expectations influence what they can do in these clothes. Unfortunately, when it comes to promoting physical health, this is a problem.”
The study’s authors argue that there is now enough evidence to further investigate whether there is a causal relationship between school uniforms and lower activity levels. They also highlight the importance of regular physical activity for all young people, regardless of gender.
“Regular physical activity helps with many physical, mental and wellness needs as well as academic outcomes,” Ryan said. “We now need more information to build on these findings, such as how long students wear their uniforms after school, whether this varies depending on their background, and whether broader gender-based clothing norms affect their How can the activity be affected?
The findings are reported in the Journal of Sport and Health Science.
[ad_2]
