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The Effects of Active Breaks on Sustained Attention among Sports College Students

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Title: The Effects of Active Breaks on Sustained Attention among Sports College Students
Language: English
Authors: Ana Filipa Silva (ORCID 0000-0002-1772-1272), Rui Miguel Silva (ORCID 0000-0003-3380-864X), Francisco Tomás González-Fernández (ORCID 0000-0002-1480-7521)
Source: Health Education Journal. 2026 85(3):236-251.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Students, Majors (Students), Attention, Reaction Time, Physical Activities, Time on Task, Intervention, Athletics, Recreation, Program Effectiveness
Geographic Terms: Portugal
DOI: 10.1177/00178969251399562
ISSN: 0017-8969
1748-8176
Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to analyse the acute effects of active breaks (AB) on vigilance among sports college students in Portugal. Methods: Thirty-two students following a sports degree programme (24 males and 8 females, aged 20.7 ± 2.5 years) voluntarily participated in this crossover randomised study. All participants completed a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT), a reaction time task widely used to assess sustained attention and alertness, during a regular class session. Afterwards, they attended a 60-minute lecture before repeating the PVT. A 10-minute break ensued: half the participants remained seated passively (control condition), while the other half performed moderate-intensity individual calisthenic exercises (AB condition). A three-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to examine the effects of condition (control vs AB), time-on-task (minutes 1-5) and assessment moment (baseline, pre, post). Results: No significant main effects of condition were found; however, a significant three-way interaction between condition, time and assessment moment (p = 0.025) was evident. Post hoc comparisons revealed a significant increase in reaction time from minute 3 to minute 5 during the post-intervention PVT in the AB condition, suggesting potential fatigue or reduced vigilance over time. Conclusion: These findings indicate that ABs may transiently affect vigilance, but their effects may not persist during prolonged tasks. Further research is warranted to determine the optimal parameters for implementing ABs in an academic context, particularly among physically active populations.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1501806
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: The Effects of Active Breaks on Sustained Attention among Sports College Students
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ana+Filipa+Silva%22">Ana Filipa Silva</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1772-1272">0000-0002-1772-1272</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rui+Miguel+Silva%22">Rui Miguel Silva</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3380-864X">0000-0003-3380-864X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Francisco+Tomás+González-Fernández%22">Francisco Tomás González-Fernández</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1480-7521">0000-0002-1480-7521</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Health+Education+Journal%22"><i>Health Education Journal</i></searchLink>. 2026 85(3):236-251.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 16
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Majors+%28Students%29%22">Majors (Students)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attention%22">Attention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reaction+Time%22">Reaction Time</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+Activities%22">Physical Activities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Time+on+Task%22">Time on Task</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intervention%22">Intervention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Athletics%22">Athletics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Recreation%22">Recreation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Portugal%22">Portugal</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
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  Data: 10.1177/00178969251399562
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0017-8969<br />1748-8176
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Objective: This study aimed to analyse the acute effects of active breaks (AB) on vigilance among sports college students in Portugal. Methods: Thirty-two students following a sports degree programme (24 males and 8 females, aged 20.7 ± 2.5 years) voluntarily participated in this crossover randomised study. All participants completed a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT), a reaction time task widely used to assess sustained attention and alertness, during a regular class session. Afterwards, they attended a 60-minute lecture before repeating the PVT. A 10-minute break ensued: half the participants remained seated passively (control condition), while the other half performed moderate-intensity individual calisthenic exercises (AB condition). A three-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to examine the effects of condition (control vs AB), time-on-task (minutes 1-5) and assessment moment (baseline, pre, post). Results: No significant main effects of condition were found; however, a significant three-way interaction between condition, time and assessment moment (p = 0.025) was evident. Post hoc comparisons revealed a significant increase in reaction time from minute 3 to minute 5 during the post-intervention PVT in the AB condition, suggesting potential fatigue or reduced vigilance over time. Conclusion: These findings indicate that ABs may transiently affect vigilance, but their effects may not persist during prolonged tasks. Further research is warranted to determine the optimal parameters for implementing ABs in an academic context, particularly among physically active populations.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1501806
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1501806
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        Value: 10.1177/00178969251399562
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
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        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 236
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Majors (Students)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reaction Time
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physical Activities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Time on Task
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      – SubjectFull: Intervention
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      – SubjectFull: Athletics
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      – SubjectFull: Recreation
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      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Portugal
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      – TitleFull: The Effects of Active Breaks on Sustained Attention among Sports College Students
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            NameFull: Rui Miguel Silva
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            NameFull: Francisco Tomás González-Fernández
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