Jägerbrink V, Glaser J, Östenberg AH. Extracurricular Pulse Activities in School: Students' Attitudes and Experiences.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022;
19:15051. [PMID:
36429770 PMCID:
PMC9691175 DOI:
10.3390/ijerph192215051]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Few children and adolescents reach the recommended levels of daily physical activity, which is something that affects their health and wellbeing. Research shows that physical activities could be one factor for improving health and achieving academic goals in children and adolescents.
METHODS
Eight focus group interviews with students 10-15 years old were conducted at two schools with extracurricular pulse activities (ECPAs) during the school day.
RESULTS
In general, the interviewed students at both schools expressed positive attitudes toward ECPAs, emphasizing a felt correlation with physical activities out of school. Phenomena such as motivation, concentration and social relations also seem to profit from ECPAs. However, some students display a critical approach to ECPAs. From a gender perspective, girls embrace ECPAs with more enthusiasm than boys.
CONCLUSIONS
In order to make the best use of positive attitudes and health promotion, schools need to improve structural conditions such as facilities, time pressure, unhygienic conditions, blurry boundaries between ECPAs and Physical Education (PE), uncomprehending teachers, contents and, very importantly, the inclusion of students in the process of planning and implementing ECPAs.
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