Associations between 24-h movement guidelines compliance and anxiety and depression among youth receiving special education services in the US.

BACKGROUND: Youth with disabilities are five times more likely to experience anxiety or depression than peers without disabilities. Engagement in sufficient daily physical activity (PA), adequate nightly sleep, and limited daily screen time (collectively known as 24-h movement guidelines) is associated with lower odds of anxiety and depression for peers without disabilities. Extending the investigation of these modifiable behaviors to youth with disabilities is warranted. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association between meeting 24-h movement guidelines and anxiety and depression among a nationally representative sample of youth with disabilities. METHODS: A cross-sectional secondary analysis of the 2019-2020 NSCH was conducted and included youth 6-17 years old who were currently receiving special education services. Weighted prevalence estimates and logistic regressions were employed to estimate the association between meeting guidelines (separately and combined) and current anxiety or depression status. RESULTS: Compared to youth with disabilities who met the guideline, those not meeting the sleep or screen time guidelines, independently, had significantly higher odds of depression, or anxiety (aOR range 1.53, 2.31 respectively). Comparable odds were observed between those meeting the PA guidelines, alone or in combination, and those meeting none of the 24-h movement guidelines. CONCLUSION: Adequate nightly sleep, and limited screen time, were significantly associated with anxiety and depression among youth with disabilities, a pattern consistent to peers without disabilities. Yet, meeting more than one guideline did not further reduce odds of poor mental health, warranting further investigation of compounding benefits of the 24-h guidelines within this population.

The role of social support in the relationship between physical activity and health-related quality of life among adults with visual impairments.

BACKGROUND: Studies support assertions that more social support may be related to higher physical activity behavior, which may, in turn, relate to higher health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, these relationships remain unexplored, particularly among adults with visual impairments. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between physical activity-specific social support, physical activity participation, and HRQoL among adults with visual impairments. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized an online survey methodology. Adults with visual impairments (n = 251) were recruited via three visual impairment LISTSERVs housed in the USA and completed four questionnaires. Data were analyzed using (a) a descriptive analysis, (b) one sample t-test, and (c) structural equation modeling to examine the relations among social support, physical activity, and HRQoL components. RESULTS: The participants reported relatively low weekly physical activity participation, with mean physical activity about 1362.02 ± 1231.37 MET-min/week. Compared to the mean T-scores of the general adult US population, the participants had significantly lower physical (43.56 ± 6.76, t = -15.10, p < .01) and mental components of HRQoL (38.24 ± 11.37, t = -16.39, p < .01). Structural equational modeling results show that social support positively predicted weekly physical activity participation (ß = 0.11), which, in turn, predicted physical component (ß = 0.12) but not mental component HRQoL (ß = 0.04, p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our participant sample reported significantly lower HRQoL than the general US populations. The findings suggest that social support can both directly and indirectly, through physical activity, influence psychological HRQoL among adults with visual impairments.

Prevalence of Bullying Victimization and Perpetration Among Youth with Chronic Health Conditions in the United States.

Background: Bullying perpetration and victimization have gained widespread recognition as major public health issues. However, few studies focused on exploring prevalence rates across impairments or chronic health conditions exist in the literature. The primary purpose of this analysis was to provide current estimates of bullying victimization and perpetration among US youth with 24 chronic health conditions. A secondary purpose was to examine associations between the number of chronic health conditions and bullying victimization and perpetration. Methods: Data from the 2019-2020 National Survey of Children's Health, nationally representative cross-sectional probability sample of noninstitutionalized youth, were used. This study focused on 29,285 adolescents (aged 12-17 years), including 14,203 with a chronic condition. Pearson's χ2 tests were used to examine proportional equivalence on bullying perpetration and victimization, and logistic regression analyses were used to explore associations between the number of chronic conditions and bullying behaviors. Results: A significantly higher proportion of adolescents with chronic health conditions engaged in bullying perpetration and victimization compared to those without a chronic health condition. Those with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, and depression were noted as having elevated proportions of bullying victimization, whereas those with behavioral or conduct problems, blood disorders, and depression had higher rates of perpetration. Conclusions: This analysis helps to identify several groups of adolescents in need of targeted interventions to help reduce bullying rates. Those experiencing more than one chronic health condition were 3.56 and 2.97 times as likely to engage in bullying victimization and perpetration, respectively, compared to those with no condition.

Effects of Peer-Supported and Self-Guided Exercise on Self-Reported Anxiety and Depression among Young Adults-A Pilot Study.

Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression became heightened issues for college-aged young adults during the global pandemic. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a peer-supported exercise intervention on young adults (vs. self-guided exercise) who reported elevated levels of anxiety and/or depression. A parallel group design was used where young adults (n = 27) were randomly assigned to either a peer-supported or self-guided exercise group which lasted for eight weeks. The generalized anxiety and depression subscales of the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms (CCAPS-34) were measured for a baseline and then at 4-week, 8-week, and 12-week follow-up. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) with repetitive measures show that peer-supported and self-guided exercise programs reduced participant anxiety and depression scores; however, intervention decay for the peer-supported exercise intervention was more severe than that for the self-guided group. Self-guided exercise had a longer-lasting effect than the peer-supported alternative and could be a cost-effective approach to combat anxiety and depression issues among young adults.

Movement Behaviors and Mental Health of Catholic Priests in the Eastern United States.

The purpose of this observational study was to examine (a) the proportion of Catholic priests in the United States that have anxiety/depression and meet the Canadian 24-Hour of Movement Guidelines, and (b) the association of meeting these guidelines with the likelihood of anxiety and depression. A sample of (arch)diocesan priests (n = 335) completed demographic and behavior survey, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results indicated that 21.1% of priests surveyed met all three movement guidelines (physical activity, sleep, and screentime) and 7.8% met none. Priests who reported excessive recreational screentime (≥ 3 h/day) were more likely to have anxiety (OR = 3.17) and depression (OR = 2.91), and who were physically inactive (< 150 min/week) were more likely to have depression (OR = 8.89). Data from this study addresses a gap in the literature regarding Catholic priests, movement behavior, and mental wellbeing.

Brief Report Prevalence of Bullying Among Autistic Adolescents in the United States: Impact of Disability Severity Status.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of bullying behaviors among autistic and non-autistic adolescents between the ages of 12-17 years in the U.S. and the extent to which the severity of such disability impacts bullying behaviors, based on the 2019-2020 National Survey of Children's Health. METHODS: Parental reports of bullying perpetration and victimization were used to compare bullying behaviors among a weighted sample of 1011 autistic and 28,016 non-autistic adolescents. RESULTS: Adjusting for participant sex, household income level, highest parent education, and race/ethnicity, autistic adolescents were significantly more likely to engage in bullying perpetration and experience bullying victimization than non-Autistic adolescents. Compared to non-autistic peers, autistic adolescents with moderate/severe autism were most likely to bully others (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.80, p < 0.05) and experience bullying victimization (aOR = 5.13, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study provides an update on the prevalence of bullying perpetration and victimization among autistic adolescents, however, the influence of factors such as socialization and mental health on bullying behaviors needs exploration.

The impact of moderate physical activity and student interaction on retention at a community college.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of a voluntary walking program that combined moderate physical activity and student interaction on student retention at a community college. Methods: A sample of 69 students at a suburban community college voluntarily joined a walking program and logged the number of minutes they walked and the number of people they spoke to each day. Using a Chi-Squared Test of Independence, the study sample was compared to a matched sample of nonparticipating students. Results: There was a significant difference in these groups relative to retention. A Fisher's Exact Test was used to consider (a) the difference between participants who walked at least 150 minutes per week Reference (1) and those who did not relative to retention and (b) the difference between participants who interacted while walking and those who did not relative to retention. These tests showed no significant differences. Conclusions: Participation in the walking program was significantly associated with retention, but amount of moderate activity or interaction was not.

"Everybody Wants to be Included": Experiences with 'Inclusive' Strategies in Physical Education.

This study examined how students with orthopedic impairments experienced strategies identified in the literature to support 'inclusion'. An interpretative phenomenological analysis research approach was used, and six students with orthopedic impairments (age 10-14 years) served as participants. Data sources were written prompts, semi-structured, audiotaped interviews, and reflective interview notes. Based on thematic data analysis, four themes were constructed: "It's kind of embarrassing": experiences with support; "I don't want to be different": equipment, activity, and rule modifications; "I like to be a part of the conversation": autonomy and choice in PE; and "I would rather be like the other students": discussing disability. The experiences portrayed through these themes highlighted the differential effects of these explicated strategies, where each strategy contributed to feelings of inclusion, as well as marginalization among participants. As such, the findings indicated that 'inclusive' strategies should not be considered as blanket recommendations; instead, attempts to promote 'inclusion' of students with disabilities should start with a reflexive look at the unique needs of each individual student.

Longitudinal Changes of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Performance in High School: Association with Individual and School-Based Variables.

This study aimed to model adolescents' cardiorespiratory fitness performance change trajectories longitudinally across high school years and its relation to school- and individual/student-level factors. We employed hierarchical linear modeling to examine longitudinal cardiorespiratory fitness performance changes, as measured by the progressive aerobic capacity endurance run (PACER), over the years, between sexes, and in association with the school-level variables. Participants were 76,227 adolescents from 80 high schools in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. School-level academic performance (SAP), the percent of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals (FARM), and physical education student-faculty ratio were obtained with permission from the school districts. The number of laps completed in PACER test improved throughout the first three years of high school, however, proportions of those within the healthy fitness zone (HFZ) decreased overall from 9th to 11th grade. Furthermore, the number of laps completed by adolescents appeared to have plateaued at 11th grade, with a significant decline during the final year of high school. Sex-based discrepancies in performance in meeting HFZ were evident, where girls significantly outperformed boys during 9th and 10th grades, and boys significantly outperformed girls during 12th grade. Additionally, SAP and FARM were positively and negatively, respectively, significantly associated with PACER performance at the school level. The odds ratio of adolescents performing in the HFZ declined significantly over the years, even though the number of PACER laps improved in the first three years. Concerted efforts should be targeted at improving cardiorespiratory fitness in high school due to its positive relationship to academic achievement in schools, and negative association with cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and all-cause mortality in adulthood.

Predicting physical activity among adults with visual impairments using the theory of planned behavior.

BACKGROUND: Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB), Haegele et al.1 created the beliefs of individuals with visual impairments about physical activity scale (BIVIPA-1) to examine individuals with visual impairments' (VI) motivation toward physical activity (PA). The overall factorial tenability of the BIVIPA-1 remains unclear due to its item configuration. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: The purposes of this cross-sectional study were to: (a) use confirmatory factor analysis to explore the structure of the expanded BIVIPA-2 and (b) test the predictive utility of TPB constructs on PA among adults with VI. METHODS: Adults with VI (n = 236) completed the BIVIPA-2 and a multi-item PA recall instrument. A CFA was performed on the BIVIPA-2, and structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationship between theory constructs and PA. RESULTS: The CFA results showed that the underlying structure of BIVIPA-2 was tenable for adults with VI based on TPB. Structural equation modeling showed limited support for the theorized predictive roles of theory variables on PA, as attitude predicted physical activity intention. Interestingly, subjective norm was a direct predictor for PA among adults with VI (ß = 0.145). CONCLUSIONS: TPB had limited predictive utility for physical activity among individuals with VI. The predictive relationship of subjective norms on PA may be somewhat unique to this population. Researchers may consider expanding the model to examine social support and subjective norms constructs and PA among individuals with VI.

Absent, Incapable, and "Normal": Understanding the Inclusiveness of Visually Impaired Students' Experiences in Integrated Physical Education.

The purpose of this study was to examine the inclusiveness of visually impaired youths' experiences in integrated physical education. An experiential qualitative research approach was utilized, and 22 visually impaired youth (age 12-17 years) acted as participants. Data sources included one-on-one Zoom interviews, written responses to long-answer prompts, and reflexive interview notes. Data were analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach, and three themes were constructed: (a) I'm not there, so how could I: The absent person; (b) I can't see, so I can't do it: The incapable person; and (c) It'd be nice to feel like everyone else: The "normal" person. Participants described that feelings of inclusion were unavailable to them and that feeling, and being viewed as, absent, incapable, and (not) "normal" highlighted this unavailability.

"They're Either Going to Find Ways to Include You or They're Just Kind of Not": Experiences of Students With Orthopedic Impairments in Integrated Physical Education.

This study explored the experiences of students with orthopedic impairments in integrated physical education (PE) classes. An interpretative phenomenological analysis research approach was used, and six students with orthopedic impairments (age = 10-14 years) served as participants. Data sources were semistructured, audiotaped interviews and reflective interview notes. Based on data analysis, three themes were developed-"Without it, they probably would like, just treat me normal," visibility, disclosure, and expectations; "I sit out," limited participation and a lack of modifications/accommodations; and "PE doesn't feel great," social interactions and perception of self. The experiences portrayed throughout these themes highlight the marginalization and lack of access that the participants encountered in their integrated PE classes. The findings indicated that PE professionals working with students with orthopedic impairments may benefit from reflecting on personal biases and their instructional practices in an effort to improve the quality of PE experiences for these students.

Mental Health, Bullying, and Victimization among Chinese Adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to examine if adolescents who experience anxiety or depression have higher levels of reported bullying victimization or perpetration than those who do not. Based on the existing research, we hypothesized that those who experienced moderate or severe depression and anxiety would have higher rates of bullying victimization and perpetration when compared to those who experienced mild or no depression. This study used an observational design, and data were collected from a convenience sample of adolescents in a large regional high school in an Eastern province of China. The final sample included 1481 adolescents aged 14-19 years who provided complete data for each of the study variables. Demographic data were collected through a four-item demographic survey, bullying perpetration and victimization data were collected using subscales from the Illinois Bully Scale, and anxiety and depression were measured using the Chinese version of the General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire, respectively. Descriptive analyses, correlational analyses, and multivariate analysis of covariance were used to analyze the data. About 7.1% and 15.2% of participants reported moderate-to-severe depression or moderate-to-severe anxiety, respectively. Pairwise comparisons indicated that adolescents with no or mild depression had significantly lower bullying perpetration than those with moderate-to-severe depression, but those with no or mild anxiety had significantly higher perpetration than those with moderate-to-severe anxiety. There was no statistically significant difference in victimization among different anxiety or depression levels alone (all p-values ≥ 0.05). This is among the first studies to examine reported levels of bullying perpetration and victimization among adolescents experiencing anxiety and depression. The findings help to identify adolescents who experience moderate-to-severe levels of depression as an at-risk group for bullying perpetration, who should therefore be a focus of bullying intervention work.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Growth in Middle School: Socio-Demographic Factor Associations.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to (a) examine the three-year longitudinal growth trends of cardiorespiratory fitness among middle school students, and (b) examine the associations between individual and school-level socio-demographic variables and middle school student cardiorespiratory fitness performance. Methods: A longitudinal multilevel analysis design was used. Participants were adolescents (N = 44,801; 48.1% girls) from 33 middle schools in an Eastern U.S. state. The grand mean age for the participants was 12.42 ± 0.98 years old. Individual-level variables included grade (testing year), sex, and the 15-m Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) performance, which was measured annually for 3 years. School-level variables included the percentage of students receiving a free and reduced-price meal, student-faculty ratio for physical education, and school-level academic performance. Results: A three-level hierarchical linear model was used to model the longitudinal performance change across 3 years accounting for individual and school-level factors. A quadratic growth curve was identified in PACER performance changes, with a positive first-order coefficient (ß = 3.05) and a negative second-order coefficient (ß =-0.82) overall. Sex was significantly associated with PACER changes (p < .01), with boys and girls having divergent longitudinal growth curves. School-level academic performance was positively associated with PACER performance; however, the association was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Results indicate that although cardiorespiratory fitness improved across years, on average, performance did not keep up with healthy fitness zone recommendations. In addition, sex-based discrepancies were evident as boys and girls demonstrated different quadratic growth curves in cardiorespiratory fitness.

Movement behaviors, comorbidities, and health-related quality of life among adults with visual impairments.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine (a) discrete and integrative associations of physical activity (PA), sitting-time (ST), and sleep duration (SD) with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adults with visual impairments (VIs) and (b) the role that comorbidities play in the association between PA, ST, and SD and HRQoL among adults with VIs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized an online survey methodology. A sample of 195 adults with VIs were recruited from two VI-related listservs in the U.S. from June to September of 2019, and they completed a battery of self-reported measures. RESULTS: Meeting SD, PA, and ST guidelines were positive predictors for HRQoL. The number of reported comorbidities was as a significant negative predictor for HRQoL. The number of comorbidities did not moderate the association between meeting movement guidelines and HRQoL. Adjusting for gender and number of comorbidities, analysis of covariance showed that individuals meeting all three guidelines had significantly higher HRQoL than those meeting none or SD guideline alone. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate the discrete and integrative HRQoL-related benefits of meeting three movement behavior guidelines for adults with VIs. The existence of comorbid conditions did not moderate this relationship.Implications for rehabilitationAdults with visual impairments (VIs) tend to report poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than those without VIs.In our sample, participants who met all three of the physical activity (PA), sitting-time, and sleep guidelines had significantly higher HRQoL than those meeting none or the sleep guideline alone.Mechanisms to disseminate movement guidelines and associated benefits are needed to promote guideline adherence to adults with VIs.Rehabilitation professionals should design and implement multi-behavior programs to promote adherence to PA, screen-time, and sleep duration guidelines to enhance HRQoL among adults with VIs, including those experiencing comorbid conditions.

Academic Stress, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Mental Health among Chinese Adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of academic stress on physical activity and sleep, and subsequently their impacts on anxiety and depression. METHODS: This cross-sectional study collected data from a convenience sample of 1533 adolescents in an eastern province in China. Surveys were used to collect data on academic stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, physical activity, and demographics. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and path analysis were used to analyze data. RESULTS: The participants reported about 6.77 ± 0.89 h of sleep per day and 1.62 ± 1.79 days of 60 min of physical activity each week. Academic stress was positively correlated with anxiety and depression, which were negatively correlated with physical activity and sleep. The path analysis showed that academic stress directly predicted anxiety (ß = 0.54) and depression (ß = 0.55), and hours of sleep (ß = 0.024) and the number of days of 60 min physical activity (ß = 0.014) mediated the relation. CONCLUSION: The results largely supported our hypotheses and supported the need to lessen academic stress experienced by Chinese adolescents, in effort to enhance mental health indices directly, and by allowing for engagement in health-related behaviors such as physical activity and sleep.

The 24-Hour Movement Guidelines and Body Composition Among Youth Receiving Special Education Services in the United States.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study were to examine the proportions of youth receiving special education services in the United States who individually and jointly met physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration guidelines, and to examine the impact of meeting none, one, two, and three of the guidelines on overweight and obesity. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis utilized data from the 2016 to 2017 National Survey for Children's Health data set on 3582 youth aged 10-17 years who received special education services. The frequency of the participants' compliance with the 24-hour movement guidelines and body weight status (based on the age- and sex-specific percentile cutoffs) were estimated. Meeting guidelines was defined as: 9-11 hours/night (5-13 y) or 8-10 hours/night (14-17 y) of sleep, ≤120 minutes per day of screen time, and ≥60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the impact of meeting none, one, two, or three guidelines on body weight status, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Overall, 8.1% of youth met all three guidelines, 42.0% met two guidelines, 38.0% met one guideline, and 11.9% did not meet any guideline. Meeting all three guidelines was associated with an approximately 50% decreased likelihood of overweight than meeting no guideline, or sleep or screen time guidelines independently. CONCLUSIONS: This study extends the 24-hour movement framework to children receiving special education services and should prompt the continued study of its utility for understanding health disparities experienced by this population.

Effects of a one-year physical activity intervention on fundamental movement skills of boys with severe intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effectiveness of using physical activity-based interventions to improve fundamental movement skills (FMS) of children with severe intellectual disabilities (ID). AIMS: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a one-year physical activity intervention on FMS among boys with severe ID. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Forty-two boys with severe ID (Mage= 9.6 years) were randomized into experimental and control groups. The experimental group participated in a semi-structured physical activity intervention, while the control group engaged in a supervised free play program, for 60 min per meeting, five times per week, over 12 months. Participants' FMS were assessed for pretest, 6-month midterm, and posttest; their age, body mass index (BMI) were also collected. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Controlling for participants' BMI and pretest scores, the intervention significantly improved posttest FMS in the experimental group compared to the comparison group. No significant improvement was found from midterm to posttest for the comparison group. No significant improvement was found from pretest to midterm FMS performance for both groups. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The results suggest that the fundamental movement skill performance of children with severe ID can be improved, although the significant effects may only be evident after long (1 year), rather than short-term (6 months), time periods.

Accelerometer measured physical activity among youth with autism and age, sex, and body mass index matched peers: A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: While research has examined physical activity differences between youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurotypical peers, they largely do not consider demographic or anthropomorphic variables when recruiting comparison group participants. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this preliminary study was to compare light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) between youth with ASD and age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) matched neurotypical peers from the same geographic region. METHOD: A sample of 36 participants, including youth aged 13-17 with ASD and age, sex, and BMI-matched neurotypical youth recruited from the same geographic location. Demographic information was obtained via parent report, and physical activity was measured using the ActiGraph GT3x accelerometer. Participants wore monitors for seven consecutive days during waking hours. Descriptive analyses were conducted for participant demographics, LPA, and MVPA, and paired-sample t-tests were employed to examine differences in LPA and MVPA between youth with ASD and age, sex, and BMI-matched neurotypical peers. RESULTS: Youth with ASD and their age, BMI, and sex matched neurotypical peers demonstrated no significant difference in average daily LPA (201.36 ± 63.50 v. 172.30 ± 54.98) or MVPA (33.54 ± 17.07 v. 37.63 ± 19.94). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that youth with ASD did not engage in significantly less MVPA than age, sex, and BMI-matched peers from the same geographic location. Not finding clear distinctions between youth with ASD and neurotypical peers in this study suggest that variability in other social or environmental factors may play a larger role in influencing MVPA than ASD itself.

Learners' motivational response to the Science, PE, & Me! curriculum: A situational interest perspective.

BACKGROUND: The Science, PE, & Me! (SPEM) curriculum is a concept-based physical education curriculum that offers students coherent educational experiences for constructing health-related fitness knowledge through movement experiences. The purpose of this study was to evaluate students' motivational response to the SPEM curriculum from the situational interest perspective. METHODS: The study used a cluster randomized controlled design in which 30 elementary schools in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the eastern United States were randomly assigned to an experimental or comparison condition. Although all students in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades in the targeted schools were eligible to participate in the study, a random sample of students from the experimental (n = 1749; 15 schools) and comparison groups (n = 1985; 15 schools) provided data. Students' motivational response to the SPEM curriculum or comparison curriculum was measured using the previously validated Situational Interest Scale-Elementary. Data were analyzed using structural mean modeling. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the experimental group (as reference group) showed significantly higher enjoyment (z = -2.01), challenge (z = -6.54), exploration (z = -12.195), novelty (z = -8.80), and attention demand (z = -7.90) than the comparison group. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the SPEM curriculum created a more situationally interesting context for learning than the comparison physical education curriculum.