Extracurricular Pulse Activities in School: Students’ Attitudes and Experiences

Veronica Jägerbrink, Joakim Glaser and Anna Hafsteinsson Östenberg ()
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Veronica Jägerbrink: Department of Sport Science, Malmö University, Nordenskiöldsgatan 10, 211 19 Malmoe, Sweden
Joakim Glaser: Department of Society Culture and Identity, Malmö University, 205 06 Malmoe, Sweden
Anna Hafsteinsson Östenberg: Department of Sport Science, Linnaeus University, 352 95 Växjö-Kalmar, Sweden

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-11

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.

Keywords: academic achievement; health; physical activity; school; students’ attitudes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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