AIM: Sedentary behaviour and increasing mental load in adolescents is one of the major health problems of the contemporary youth. The aim of the study is to analyze the associations between mental load and physical activity (PA) in adolescents in school-day segments. METHODS: 381 adolescents (120 boys, 261 girls) took part in the research which was conducted in 19 secondary schools in the Czech Republic. Participants throughout the whole day (1-3 days) wore an ActiTrainer accelerometer that monitors PA and heart rate (HR). The reports covered 727 school days. The participants were divided into two groups with lower and higher mental load. RESULTS: Boys and girls with higher mental load in lessons do not compensate this load in neither volume nor intensity of PA during recess in greater amount than those who had lower mental load. In the individual school-day segments (apart from the time before school) no significant differences between the groups were found. CONCLUSION: When creating a habit of immediate compensation for mental load in lessons by PA, it is necessary to pay attention to boys and girls with higher mental load in lessons. The adoption of the habit should be supported by adequate physical literacy of both students and teachers and by changes in the school programme.

Academy of Physical Education Katowice Poland

Department of Social Sciences in Kinanthropology Faculty of Physical Culture Palacký University Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic

Institute of Active Lifestyle Faculty of Physical Culture Palacký University Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org

Surveillance of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in czech children and adolescents: a scoping review of the literature from the past two decades

Does Vigorous Physical Activity Contribute to Adolescent Life Satisfaction?

Physical Activity Recommendations in the Context of New Calls for Change in Physical Education

Physical Activity Recommendations for Segments of School Days in Adolescents: Support for Health Behavior in Secondary Schools

Physical Activity of Secondary School Adolescents at Risk of Depressive Symptoms

Physical Activity in 15-17-Year-Old Adolescents as Compensation for Sedentary Behavior in School

Academic Stress and Physical Activity in Adolescents

Compensation for Adolescents' School Mental Load by Physical Activity on Weekend Days