The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to learn about the effect of a 12-week school-based intervention combining mindfulness with high-intensity interval training (MF-HIIT), MF-only intervention, and HIIT-only intervention in relative to sedentary activities on executive function (EF) in 8-12 years old children. The main question it aims to answer is whether a 12-week school-based MF-HIIT intervention has larger beneficial effect on EF performance than that following a 12-week school-based MF-only and HIIT-only in relative to the sedentary activities. Multiple cohorts of participants will be recruited to participate this one-semester study, including the pretest, intervention, and posttest phases. During the pretest phase, participants an their parents will complete the following 1. Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT) to assess intelligence quotient 2. Fitnessgram test to assess aerobic capacity, muscle endurance, flexibility, and body mass index 3. Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) questionnaire to assess dispositional mindfulness 4. Computerized tasks to assess EF 5. Parent-reported demographic and health information Following the pretest phase, participants will receive the 12-week classroom-based intervention, with the classroom as the intervention unit. Following the intervention and during the posttest phase, participants will complete the fitness, measures, EF measures, and dispositional mindfulness measure again. Researcher will compare the EFn outcome measures following the MF-HIIT, MF-only, and HIIT-only interventions with the sedentary activity intervention to see if MF and HIIT has beneficial effects on children's EF. Further, researcher will compare the EF measures following the MF-HIIT compared with MF-only and HIIT-only interventions to see if combining MF with HIIT has greater beneficial effects on children's EF than MF and HIIT alone.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
352
Two 10-min MF-HIIT sessions every school day during the 12-week intervention period. One session in the morning and one session in the afternoon.
Two 10-min HIIT-only sessions every school day during the 12-week intervention period. One session in the morning and one session in the afternoon.
Two 10-min MF-only sessions every school day during the 12-week intervention period. One session in the morning and one session in the afternoon.
Two 10-min sedentary sessions every school day during the 12-week intervention period. One session in the morning and one session in the afternoon.
Pioneer Elementary School
Royal Center, Indiana, United States
RECRUITINGInhibition speed
Inhibition speed will be assessed by the response time (ms) during a child-friendly flanker task.
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
Inhibition accuracy
Inhibition accuracy will be assessed by the response accuracy (percent) during a child-friendly flanker task.
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
Updating speed
Updating speed will be assessed by the response time (ms) during a child-friendly n-back task.
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
Updating accuracy
Updating accuracy will be assessed by the response accuracy (percent) during a child-friendly n-back task.
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
Shifting speed
Shifting speed will be assessed by the response time (ms) during a child-friendly switching task.
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
Shifting accuracy
Shifting accuracy will be assessed by the response accuracy (percent) during a child-friendly switching task.
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
Aerobic capacity
Aerobic capacity will be assessed by the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) test
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
Upper body muscle endurance
Upper body muscle endurance will be assessed by the push-ups test
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
Core body muscle endurance
Core body muscle endurance will be assessed by the curl-ups test
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
Flexibility
Flexibility will be assessed by the back-saver sit and reach test
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
Body composition
body composition will be assessed by the body mass index computed as weight (kg) / (height \[m\] \* height \[m\])
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
Dispositional mindfulness
Dispositional mindfulness will be assessed by the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure questionnaire (CAMM). The questionnaire has 10 items and requires the respondents to rating each item using a 5-point likert scale from 0 (Never True) to 4 (Always True). Higher summed scores indicate higher levels of mindfulness
Time frame: At the baseline (1-2 weeks) before intervention starts and after (1-2 weeks) the intervention ends
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