TITLE:
“…The Way That You Do It”: An Exploratory Study Investigating a Process- versus Outcome-Oriented Approach to School-Based Physical Activity Promotion
AUTHORS:
Jamie McGann, Sarah Meegan, Elaine Murtagh, Christina Duff, Sarahjane Belton
KEYWORDS:
Active Schools, Elementary Education, Health Promotions, Self-Determination Theory, PA Interventions
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Physical Education,
Vol.10 No.3,
August
11,
2020
ABSTRACT: Effectiveness of school-based physical activity (PA)
initiatives is not only measured by short term impact on PA levels, but on
modifiable determinants of PA such as perceptions and motivations towards PA
engagement. These determinants predict more long-term effects and, when it
comes to PA promotion, are potentially influenced not only by “what we do” but
“the way that we do it”. “The Active School Flag” is a whole school
process-oriented physical activity initiative that aims to get more schools,
more active, more often. In this exploratory
study, a mixed methods research approach is taken to examine the
differential impact of the Active School Flag compared to the outcome-oriented
PA initiative “The Daily Mile” on measured PA and perceptions of PA, in Irish primary school children. Accelerometry
data (n = 124; 41% girls) and focus group data (n = 24; 50% girls) were
collected from four schools of low socio-economic status at baseline and follow
up (eight months later). Two schools implemented the Active School Flag
initiative and two implemented the Daily Mile initiative. Contrasting
trajectories in PA levels were observed over time with Daily Mile participants demonstrating
a significant decrease in PA levels from baseline to follow up (P = 0.004), and Active School Flag
participants demonstrating a significant increase (P over the same timeframe.
This meant that while Daily Mile participants had significantly higher levels
of PA at baseline compared to Active School Flag participants (P , Active School Flag participants experien ced a positive trajectory which saw them to “catch up” to TDM
participants by follow up.From a qualitative
perspective, 4 key themes, 1) Affordance of choice, 2) An appropriate
level of challenge, 3) Importance
of social interactions and 4) Belief that an experience is of value were identified as underpinning participant’s perceptions and motivations towards PA engagement. Themes were identified as
more positively associated with Active School Flag participation compared to Daily Mile participation. Findings suggest
that a process-oriented initiative, as opposed to an outcome-oriented
initiative, presents as a more viable way of positively impacting children’s PA
levels, perceptions and motivations towards sustained PA engagement over time.