The impact of light-intensity physical activity on executive function and creativity in vocational education and training students
Samenvatting
This dissertation has two objectives. The first objective was to investigate the effects of light physical activity on cognitive functions, with a special focus on executive functions in VET students and creativity in children and young people in general.
The second objective was to investigate the opinions of VET students and their teachers about a multi-component intervention aimed at reducing the amount of sitting by using sit-to-stand desks in classrooms.
The experimental studies showed that single sessions of light physical activity, such as standing or short walking breaks, did not lead to immediate improvements in cognitive performance, including executive functions or creativity, in VET students. It was therefore concluded that single sessions of light physical activity had no significant effect on the cognitive performance of VET students.
The systematic literature review of the relationship between physical activity and creativity in young people also found no evidence of a significant positive relationship between physical activity and divergent thinking, convergent thinking, narrative creativity, or abstractness of titles.
Although no significant effects were found, these findings do not rule out the possibility that other characteristics of physical activity, such as frequency and intensity, may influence cognitive functions such as executive functions and creativity in VET students. It was therefore recommended that future research explicitly investigate these characteristics.
Literatuurverwijzing: Luteijn, P.J. (2025). The impact of light-intensity physical activity on executive function and creativity in vocational education and training students. Heerlen: Open Universiteit.