A Day in the Life: Secondary School Students’ Experiences of School-Based Physical Activity in Ireland, Finland, and the United States

Jaimie McMullen, Collin Brooks, Cassandra Iannucci and Xiaoping Fan
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Jaimie McMullen: School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO 80639, USA
Collin Brooks: Department of Sport Management, Wellness, and Physical Education, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA 30118, USA
Cassandra Iannucci: Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
Xiaoping Fan: Department of Educational Programs, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX 78041, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Internationally, there is an effort to have schools adopt a whole-school approach to physical activity promotion. Such a model includes physical activity opportunities throughout the whole school day, including physical education; before, during, and after school physical activity; and staff and community engagement. The purpose of this study was to describe the physical activity experiences of young people attending secondary schools in Finland, Ireland, and the United States where a whole-school approach to physical activity promotion was employed. One school in each country was identified based on its adoption of a national physical activity initiative (i.e., Finland—Finnish Schools on the Move; Ireland—Active School Flag; United States—Let’s Move Active Schools). Data were collected through observation with field notes, photos, and interviews with key stakeholders. The results are presented as analytic narrative vignettes that represent a “typical” school day. The results provide a glimpse into available physical activity opportunities for young people at each school and demonstrate an emphasis on active school culture.

Keywords: whole-school physical activity; student voice; comprehensive school physical activity program; school physical activity; high school (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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