New study shows peer adversity causes a reduction in physical activity among children, which may increase the risk they will become overweight and experience other adverse health effects.

The social and emotional burdens of ostracism - particularly among children - are well known, but few studies have tested the impact of social exclusion on physical activity behaviors that may result in childhood obesity.  A new study from Dr. Jacob Barkley, an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Kent State University, demonstrates an immediate causal relationship between social exclusion and decreased physical activity among children.

A Basic Experiment

Kent State researchers led by Dr. Barkley asked children between the ages of 8- and 12- years-old to play a virtual ball-toss computer game called Cyberball, telling each child he or she was playing the game over the Internet with two other children. In half of the sessions, the child was excluded from receiving the ball for the majority of the game. In the other half, the child received the ball one-third of the time. Each child in the study played the game once under each condition and was then immediately placed in a gymnasium where he or she could choose any sedentary or physical activity they liked while researchers observed and measured physical activity.

Powerful Results

Measurements of physical versus sedentary activity of the children immediately after playing Cyberball under each condition revealed ostracism elicits decreased physical activity participation in children - reducing accelerometer counts by 22 percent and increasing time allocated to sedentary behaviors by 41 percent.

"Our findings demonstrate the direct negative impact of social exclusion on a child's likelihood to be physically active - regardless of the reason for ostracism," says Dr. Barkley. "Furthermore, even a brief experience of ostracism has an immediate impact on levels of physical activity, whether or not a child is overweight."

Real-World Application

According to Dr. Barkley, if children are ignored in social situations, often alone during free-time, picked last, often overlooked, not interested in group activities, short on friends and bullied, they are more likely to reduce physical activities behaviors.  And that increases the risk for childhood obesity and other adverse health effects.

"More research is needed to better understand what initiates the cyclical relationship - social exclusion leads to less interest in physical activity behaviors, decreased activity may lead to further ostracism, and so on," Dr. Barkley says.  "However, we now know sedentary activity in children can result from an instance of ostracism."

Dr. Barkley is available to discuss how being "left out" increases a child's likelihood to decrease physical activity and increase sedentary behavior, and the implications for childhood obesity rates.  To schedule an interview, contact Kayleigh Fitch at 440.333.0001 ext. 105 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

*Dr. Barkley's Research, "The Effect of Simulated Ostracism on Physical Activity Behavior in Children," will be published in the March 2012 Pediatrics (available online February 6).

About Dr. Jacob Barkley

Dr. Jacob Barkley received his B.S. degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Physiology from the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Brockport in 1998.  He then enrolled at SUNY University at Buffalo where he earned both his M.S. (2002) and Ph.D. (2007) in Exercise Science.  During his graduate studies Dr. Barkley was mentored by Dr. James Roemmich whose research focus is in the area of Behavioral Medicine.  Since 2006 Dr. Barkley has been an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Kent State University where he continues his primary line of inquiry focusing on physical activity behavior.  Dr. Barkley has conducted and is presently conducting multiple studies examining how social interaction, the variety of equipment and "exergames" (e.g. Nintendo Wii) affect physical activity behavior in children, adolescents and adults.  This research is aimed at better understanding some of the factors that influence physical activity behavior in the hopes that more effective physical activity interventions and recommendations can be developed.  Dr. Barkley has published his findings in a wide range of peer-reviewed journals and presented at numerous regional, national and international conferences.

Tickets (starting at only $24) are available on-line at TUTS.com, by phone at (713) 558-TUTS (8887), outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882, or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, located at 800 Bagby at Walker, Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturday - Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.  An audio described performance is available Sunday, April 1 at 2 p.m.; open captioning is available Sunday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. The Hobby Center is wheelchair accessible.  Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.  Group tickets may be purchased by calling (713) 558-8888 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

TUTS' presentation of Annie is made possible by the generosity of Apache Corporation.

Theatre Under The Stars' 2011-2012 Seeing Is Believing season is generously sponsored by St. Luke's Episcopal Health System. For all of TUTS' shows, air transportation is provided by United Airlines, the official airline of Theatre Under The Stars. Media sponsors include ABC-13 and Houston Chronicle.  Season support is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Theater District Association and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is Houston's acclaimed nonprofit musical theatre company whose mission is to enrich life through the experience of quality musical theatre and to positively impact lives beyond the stage through innovative education & community outreach programs.  TUTS was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public when it was founded in 1968 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park and is the only Houston arts organization that has performed there free to the public every year since the theatre opened.  Founded by Frank M. Young and currently under the direction of President and CEO John C. Breckenridge, TUTS has produced more than 300 musicals including many local, national and world premieres such as Kopit and Yeston's Phantom, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Jekyll & Hyde, and Irving Berlin's White Christmas as well as critically acclaimed re-inventions of classics Cabaret and Les Miserables.  Through its membership in the Independent Presenters Network, TUTS has helped bring Bombay Dreams, 9 to 5, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Spamalot, Legally Blonde, Ragtime, Curtains and The Color Purple to Broadway and ultimately back to Houston audiences.

In support of TUTS' mission, TUTS Education programs provide instruction and stage experience for more than 21,000 students annually, allowing them to flourish in a year-round schedule of classes.  The Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) offers technique-driven classes for all ability levels and ages, ranging from four to adult.  Through a merger with The River Performing and Visual Arts Center (The River), TUTS provides an accessible and inclusive arts education for children of all abilities that will enhance their development into confident, balanced individuals.  TUTS Education provides extended on-site programming as well as off-site programming for children in schools, hospitals and other community-based sites.  TUTS also annually presents the Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston's high school musical theatre programs.