A Whole-School Approach for the Promotion of Physical Activity: An Evaluation of Stakeholders’ and Educators’ Perceptions About Education in Six European Countries
Research has shown that a whole-school approach (WSA) is needed to increase student physical activity. There is a lack of empirical data on teachers’ opinions and needs regarding the implementation of a WSA approach to encourage physical activity. Our study aims to address this gap by identifying te...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Education Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/5/560 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850257810338611200 |
|---|---|
| author | Despoina Ourda Lida Skoufa Antonella Brighi Diane Crone Lowri Edwards Alessandro Failo Sophia Fourlari Mikko Huhtiniemi Timo Jaakkola George Raptis Paul Sellars Elena Papacosta Vassilis Barkoukis |
| author_facet | Despoina Ourda Lida Skoufa Antonella Brighi Diane Crone Lowri Edwards Alessandro Failo Sophia Fourlari Mikko Huhtiniemi Timo Jaakkola George Raptis Paul Sellars Elena Papacosta Vassilis Barkoukis |
| author_sort | Despoina Ourda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research has shown that a whole-school approach (WSA) is needed to increase student physical activity. There is a lack of empirical data on teachers’ opinions and needs regarding the implementation of a WSA approach to encourage physical activity. Our study aims to address this gap by identifying teachers’ and academics’ beliefs about the usefulness, content, and delivery mode of a WSA in fostering physical activity. To address the research aim, an exploratory mixed methods design was employed. Initially, a qualitative study with academics and stakeholders was conducted, followed by a quantitative investigation with teachers and school employees. In the first study, seven participants working in education took part in one-to-one interviews concerning their views on the usefulness, content, and delivery of whole-school education. The participants stressed the importance of the WSA and urged that educational authorities should consider the needs of children and the school community, promote teacher collaboration, pursue longevity, and engage with stakeholders and institutions throughout the process. In the second study, 160 school teachers and staff answered a survey about the content and delivery mode of an educational material for the promotion of WSA to fostering physical activity. The analyses indicated that participants preferred a three to six hours course, a hybrid mode of delivery, inclusion of best practices, and knowledge on how to implement a WSA. The study’s findings reveal several implications and recommendations for educators creating comprehensive school-based physical activity programs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-45f82a3ab4eb4eb196963fcb7a25062f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-45f82a3ab4eb4eb196963fcb7a25062f2025-08-20T01:56:19ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022025-04-0115556010.3390/educsci15050560A Whole-School Approach for the Promotion of Physical Activity: An Evaluation of Stakeholders’ and Educators’ Perceptions About Education in Six European CountriesDespoina Ourda0Lida Skoufa1Antonella Brighi2Diane Crone3Lowri Edwards4Alessandro Failo5Sophia Fourlari6Mikko Huhtiniemi7Timo Jaakkola8George Raptis9Paul Sellars10Elena Papacosta11Vassilis Barkoukis12Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceFaculty of Education, Free University of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyCardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF5 2YB, UKCardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF5 2YB, UKFaculty of Education, Free University of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyDepartment of Administrative Affairs, Regional Authority of Secondary Education at Pieria, 60132 Katerini, GreeceFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyvaskyla, 40014 Jyväskylän yliopisto, FinlandFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyvaskyla, 40014 Jyväskylän yliopisto, FinlandDepartment of Administrative Affairs, Regional Authority of Secondary Education at Pieria, 60132 Katerini, GreeceCardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF5 2YB, UKDepartment of Life and Health Sciences, Frederick University, 3080 Limassol, CyprusDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceResearch has shown that a whole-school approach (WSA) is needed to increase student physical activity. There is a lack of empirical data on teachers’ opinions and needs regarding the implementation of a WSA approach to encourage physical activity. Our study aims to address this gap by identifying teachers’ and academics’ beliefs about the usefulness, content, and delivery mode of a WSA in fostering physical activity. To address the research aim, an exploratory mixed methods design was employed. Initially, a qualitative study with academics and stakeholders was conducted, followed by a quantitative investigation with teachers and school employees. In the first study, seven participants working in education took part in one-to-one interviews concerning their views on the usefulness, content, and delivery of whole-school education. The participants stressed the importance of the WSA and urged that educational authorities should consider the needs of children and the school community, promote teacher collaboration, pursue longevity, and engage with stakeholders and institutions throughout the process. In the second study, 160 school teachers and staff answered a survey about the content and delivery mode of an educational material for the promotion of WSA to fostering physical activity. The analyses indicated that participants preferred a three to six hours course, a hybrid mode of delivery, inclusion of best practices, and knowledge on how to implement a WSA. The study’s findings reveal several implications and recommendations for educators creating comprehensive school-based physical activity programs.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/5/560exerciseschoolphysical educationGAPPAhealth promotion |
| spellingShingle | Despoina Ourda Lida Skoufa Antonella Brighi Diane Crone Lowri Edwards Alessandro Failo Sophia Fourlari Mikko Huhtiniemi Timo Jaakkola George Raptis Paul Sellars Elena Papacosta Vassilis Barkoukis A Whole-School Approach for the Promotion of Physical Activity: An Evaluation of Stakeholders’ and Educators’ Perceptions About Education in Six European Countries Education Sciences exercise school physical education GAPPA health promotion |
| title | A Whole-School Approach for the Promotion of Physical Activity: An Evaluation of Stakeholders’ and Educators’ Perceptions About Education in Six European Countries |
| title_full | A Whole-School Approach for the Promotion of Physical Activity: An Evaluation of Stakeholders’ and Educators’ Perceptions About Education in Six European Countries |
| title_fullStr | A Whole-School Approach for the Promotion of Physical Activity: An Evaluation of Stakeholders’ and Educators’ Perceptions About Education in Six European Countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Whole-School Approach for the Promotion of Physical Activity: An Evaluation of Stakeholders’ and Educators’ Perceptions About Education in Six European Countries |
| title_short | A Whole-School Approach for the Promotion of Physical Activity: An Evaluation of Stakeholders’ and Educators’ Perceptions About Education in Six European Countries |
| title_sort | whole school approach for the promotion of physical activity an evaluation of stakeholders and educators perceptions about education in six european countries |
| topic | exercise school physical education GAPPA health promotion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/5/560 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT despoinaourda awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT lidaskoufa awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT antonellabrighi awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT dianecrone awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT lowriedwards awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT alessandrofailo awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT sophiafourlari awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT mikkohuhtiniemi awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT timojaakkola awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT georgeraptis awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT paulsellars awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT elenapapacosta awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT vassilisbarkoukis awholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT despoinaourda wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT lidaskoufa wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT antonellabrighi wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT dianecrone wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT lowriedwards wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT alessandrofailo wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT sophiafourlari wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT mikkohuhtiniemi wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT timojaakkola wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT georgeraptis wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT paulsellars wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT elenapapacosta wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries AT vassilisbarkoukis wholeschoolapproachforthepromotionofphysicalactivityanevaluationofstakeholdersandeducatorsperceptionsabouteducationinsixeuropeancountries |