Changes to Secondary School Physical Activity Programs and Policy after Emerging from COVID-19 Lockdowns

Hussain Chattha, Markus J. Duncan, Negin A. Riazi, Scott T. Leatherdale and Karen A. Patte ()
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Hussain Chattha: Department of Health Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Saint Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
Markus J. Duncan: Department of Health Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Saint Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
Negin A. Riazi: Department of Health Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Saint Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
Scott T. Leatherdale: School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Karen A. Patte: Department of Health Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Saint Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the adaptations that schools made to physical activity programs and facilities, and disparities by area urbanicity and income, during the first school year after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a convenience sample of 132 secondary schools in Canada, school contacts responded to an annual survey in the 2020–2021 school year on changes to physical activity programs and facilities, and related staff training. Content analysis categorized open-ended text responses, and schools were compared based on area urbanicity and median income. Most schools canceled all interschool sports (88.9%) and intramurals (65.9%). New programs were added by 12.6% of schools, and about half (49%) of schools reported some continuing programs, most of which were sports programs, followed by facility and equipment access. Physical activity facilities were closed in 18.1% of schools, while 15.7% had new facilities added, and 11% temporarily converted facilities into learning spaces. Large/medium urban schools were at greater odds of having made any change to their facilities compared to schools in rural/small urban areas (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 2.3 (1.1, 4.8)). The results demonstrate the considerable scale and nature of the restrictions in school provisions of physical activity opportunities during this period, as well as the resourcefulness of some schools in adding new programs and facilities.

Keywords: adolescents; physical education; urbanicity; physical activity promotion; sports; fitness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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