Changes in Physical Activity, Physical Fitness and Well-Being Following a School-Based Health Promotion Program in a Norwegian Region with a Poor Public Health Profile: A Non-Randomized Controlled Study in Early Adolescents

Sabrina K. Schmidt, Michael S. Reinboth, Geir K. Resaland and Solfrid Bratland-Sanda
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Sabrina K. Schmidt: Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of South-Eastern Norway, Pb 235, 3603 Kongsberg, Norway
Michael S. Reinboth: Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of South-Eastern Norway, Pb 235, 3603 Kongsberg, Norway
Geir K. Resaland: Center for Physically Active Learning, Faculty of Education, Arts and Sports, Western Norway University of Applied Science, Campus Sogndal, 6856 Sogndal, Norway
Solfrid Bratland-Sanda: Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of South-Eastern Norway, Pb 235, 3603 Kongsberg, Norway

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in physical activity (PA), physical fitness and psychosocial well-being in early adolescents following implementation of a school-based health promotion program in secondary schools. Methods: Six municipalities in Telemark County, Norway, were recruited into intervention (6 schools) or control groups (9 schools). A total of 644 pupils participated in the study (response rate: 79%). The schools in the intervention group implemented the Active and Healthy Kids program, where the PA component consisted of (1) 120 min/week of physically active learning (PAL) and (2) 25 min/week of physical active breaks. Furthermore, both the intervention and control schools carried out 135 min/week of physical education. The primary outcome was PA. Secondary outcomes were sedentary time, physical fitness, subjective vitality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in five domains: physical health, psychological well-being, parent, peers and school. Results: There was a group x time effect on school-based PA ( p < 0.05), but not total PA, as well as on physical fitness ( p < 0.05) and vitality (p < 0.01). In girls, there also was a group x time effect on three out of the five domains on HRQoL ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: A multi-component, school-based health-promotion program with emphasis on the use of PAL led to positive changes in school-based PA levels. Furthermore, positive changes were seen in physical fitness, vitality and HRQoL among early adolescents in a county with a poor public health profile. This might have implications for the development and promotion in schools of general health and well-being throughout adolescence.

Keywords: adolescents; school-based physical activity; physically active academic lessons; intervention; well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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