Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 13055 17th Place MS F542, Aurora, CO, 80045.
Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 13055 E 17th Pl., MS F542, Aurora, CO, 80045.
J Sch Health. 2020 Oct;90(10):794-801. doi: 10.1111/josh.12941. Epub 2020 Aug 18.
The adoption of a shortened school week from the traditional 5 to 4 days is increasing nationwide. Budgetary and staffing needs are driving the change, yet research on the effects on students is lacking, especially regarding student health. Our study examined student health in 4 vs 5-day schools in Colorado, a state with one of the highest numbers of schools with a 4-day week.
Data are from a population-based survey of high-school students. Student responses were weighted to school enrollment, and schools were classified by length of the school week. Indicators of health behaviors and outcomes were compared between the two groups, adjusted for student and school characteristics.
A 4-day school week was associated with several positive health outcomes (improved student engagement, decreased substance use behaviors, decreased non-school screen time, and increased physical activity) as well as several negative health outcomes (increased bullying, increased sexual activity, decreased sleep, and breakfast consumption).
Our study found mixed health outcomes associated with attending schools with shortened weeks. The findings may be related to longer school days and a non-contact day, but further research is needed.
全国范围内越来越多的学校采用传统的 5 天制缩短为 4 天制。预算和人员配置的需求推动了这种变化，但关于对学生影响的研究却很少，尤其是关于学生健康的研究。我们的研究调查了科罗拉多州 4 天制和 5 天制学校的学生健康状况，该州是实行 4 天制学校的州之一。
数据来自对高中生的基于人群的调查。学生的回答根据学校的入学人数进行加权，然后根据学校周的长度对学校进行分类。在调整了学生和学校的特征后，比较了两组之间的健康行为和结果指标。
4 天制学校周与一些积极的健康结果（提高学生参与度、减少物质使用行为、减少非学校屏幕时间和增加体育活动）以及一些负面健康结果（增加欺凌行为、增加性行为、减少睡眠和早餐摄入）有关。
我们的研究发现，参加缩短周制的学校与混合健康结果有关。这些发现可能与较长的上课日和非接触日有关，但需要进一步的研究。
