Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Pupils' use of school outdoor play settings across seasons and its relation to sun exposure and physical activity

Pagels, Peter ; Wester, Ulf ; Mårtensson, Fredrika ; Guban, Peter ; Raustorp, Anders ; Fröberg, Andreas ; Söderström, Margareta LU and Boldemann, Cecilia (2020) In Photodermatology Photoimmunology and Photomedicine 36(5). p.365-372
Abstract

Background: Long outdoor stay may cause hazardous exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun even at high latitudes as in Sweden (Spring to Autumn). On the other hand, long outdoor stay is a strong predictor of primary school children´s free mobility involving moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). UV-protective outdoor environments enable long outdoor stay. We investigated the concurrent impact of different school outdoor play settings upon pupils´ sun exposure and levels of physical activity across different ages, genders, and seasons. Method: During 1 week each in September, March, and May, UVR exposure and MVPA were measured in pupils aged 7-11 years. Erythemally effective UVR exposure was measured by polysulphone... (More)

Background: Long outdoor stay may cause hazardous exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun even at high latitudes as in Sweden (Spring to Autumn). On the other hand, long outdoor stay is a strong predictor of primary school children´s free mobility involving moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). UV-protective outdoor environments enable long outdoor stay. We investigated the concurrent impact of different school outdoor play settings upon pupils´ sun exposure and levels of physical activity across different ages, genders, and seasons. Method: During 1 week each in September, March, and May, UVR exposure and MVPA were measured in pupils aged 7-11 years. Erythemally effective UVR exposure was measured by polysulphone film dosimeters and MVPA by accelerometers. Schoolyard play was recorded on maps, and used areas defined as four play settings (fixed play equipment, paved surfaces, sport fields, and green settings), categorized by season and gender. Results: During the academic year, sport fields yielded the highest UVR exposures and generated most time in MVPA. In March, time outdoors and minutes in MVPA dropped and UVR exposures were suberythemal at all play settings. In May, green settings and fixed play equipment close to greenery promoted MVPA and protected from solar overexposure during long outdoor stays. Conclusion: More outdoor activities in early spring are recommended. In May, greenery attractive for play could protect against overexposure to UVR and stimulate both girls and boys to vigorous play.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
physical activity, play settings, pupils, sun exposure
in
Photodermatology Photoimmunology and Photomedicine
volume
36
issue
5
pages
8 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:32187730
  • scopus:85083796672
ISSN
0905-4383
DOI
10.1111/phpp.12558
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
03935805-de66-43bf-aa93-f588d44b8544
date added to LUP
2020-05-28 16:53:11
date last changed
2024-05-15 12:34:03
@article{03935805-de66-43bf-aa93-f588d44b8544,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Long outdoor stay may cause hazardous exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun even at high latitudes as in Sweden (Spring to Autumn). On the other hand, long outdoor stay is a strong predictor of primary school children´s free mobility involving moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). UV-protective outdoor environments enable long outdoor stay. We investigated the concurrent impact of different school outdoor play settings upon pupils´ sun exposure and levels of physical activity across different ages, genders, and seasons. Method: During 1 week each in September, March, and May, UVR exposure and MVPA were measured in pupils aged 7-11 years. Erythemally effective UVR exposure was measured by polysulphone film dosimeters and MVPA by accelerometers. Schoolyard play was recorded on maps, and used areas defined as four play settings (fixed play equipment, paved surfaces, sport fields, and green settings), categorized by season and gender. Results: During the academic year, sport fields yielded the highest UVR exposures and generated most time in MVPA. In March, time outdoors and minutes in MVPA dropped and UVR exposures were suberythemal at all play settings. In May, green settings and fixed play equipment close to greenery promoted MVPA and protected from solar overexposure during long outdoor stays. Conclusion: More outdoor activities in early spring are recommended. In May, greenery attractive for play could protect against overexposure to UVR and stimulate both girls and boys to vigorous play.</p>}},
  author       = {{Pagels, Peter and Wester, Ulf and Mårtensson, Fredrika and Guban, Peter and Raustorp, Anders and Fröberg, Andreas and Söderström, Margareta and Boldemann, Cecilia}},
  issn         = {{0905-4383}},
  keywords     = {{physical activity; play settings; pupils; sun exposure}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{365--372}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Photodermatology Photoimmunology and Photomedicine}},
  title        = {{Pupils' use of school outdoor play settings across seasons and its relation to sun exposure and physical activity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/phpp.12558}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/phpp.12558}},
  volume       = {{36}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}