TY - JOUR
T1 - “It’s a battle … you want to do it, but howwill you get it done?”
T2 - Teachers’ and principals’ perceptions of implementing additional physical activity in school for academic performance
AU - van den Berg, Vera
AU - Salimi, Rosanne
AU - de Groot, Renate H.M.
AU - Jolles, Jelle
AU - Chinapaw, Mai J.M.
AU - Singh, Amika S.
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - School is an ideal setting to promote and increase physical activity (PA) in children. However, implementation of school-based PA programmes seems difficult, in particular due to schools’ focus on academic performance and a lack of involvement of school staff in program development. The potential cognitive and academic benefits of PA might increase chances of successful implementation. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study was: (1) to explore the perceptions of teachers and principals with regard to implementation of additional PA aimed at improving cognitive and academic performance, and (2) to identify characteristics of PA programmes that according to them are feasible in daily school practice. Twenty-six face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with primary school teachers (grades 5 and 6) and principals in The Netherlands, and analysed using inductive content analysis. Teachers and principals expressed their willingness to implement additional PA if it benefits learning. Time constraints appeared to be a major barrier, and strongly influenced participants’ perceptions of feasible PA programmes. Teachers and principals emphasised that additional PA needs to be short, executed in the classroom, and provided in “ready-to-use” materials, i.e., that require no or little preparation time (e.g., a movie clip). Future research is needed to strengthen the evidence on the effects of PA for academic purposes, and should examine the forms of PA that are both effective as well as feasible in the school setting.
AB - School is an ideal setting to promote and increase physical activity (PA) in children. However, implementation of school-based PA programmes seems difficult, in particular due to schools’ focus on academic performance and a lack of involvement of school staff in program development. The potential cognitive and academic benefits of PA might increase chances of successful implementation. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study was: (1) to explore the perceptions of teachers and principals with regard to implementation of additional PA aimed at improving cognitive and academic performance, and (2) to identify characteristics of PA programmes that according to them are feasible in daily school practice. Twenty-six face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with primary school teachers (grades 5 and 6) and principals in The Netherlands, and analysed using inductive content analysis. Teachers and principals expressed their willingness to implement additional PA if it benefits learning. Time constraints appeared to be a major barrier, and strongly influenced participants’ perceptions of feasible PA programmes. Teachers and principals emphasised that additional PA needs to be short, executed in the classroom, and provided in “ready-to-use” materials, i.e., that require no or little preparation time (e.g., a movie clip). Future research is needed to strengthen the evidence on the effects of PA for academic purposes, and should examine the forms of PA that are both effective as well as feasible in the school setting.
KW - Academic performance
KW - Feasibility
KW - Intervention development
KW - Interviews
KW - Perceptions principals
KW - Perceptions teachers
KW - Physical activity
KW - Qualitative research
KW - School setting
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030723919&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85030723919&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14101160
DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14101160
M3 - Article
C2 - 28973967
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 14
JO - International journal of environmental research and public health
JF - International journal of environmental research and public health
IS - 10
M1 - 1160
ER -