The Health Coach Project. An Interventional Study on Health Promotion In Elemantary School

• Introduction: Young school children in Sweden spend today less time taking part in physical activities, compared to what they did 15-20 years ago. Physical activity is a major health component, which can make children maintain or increase their health (Strong et al 2005; Janssen & LeBlanc, 2010). Given this background new efforts to meet these inactivity problems among young children are very important. Aim: To describe and analyze a longitudinal (two years) health coach intervention, focusing on the effects and experiences of expanded physical activities in an elementary school, managed by a health coach. Methods: A health coach has been employed on a part time basis in an elementary school, to increase young children´s (10-12 years old) physical activity. Both quantitative (intervention school n=43; control schools n=74, total n=117) and qualitative data (intervention school n=16) has been collected on two occasions over a period of two years. Results & Discussion: The data analysis has shown that the implemented health promotion activities, managed by the health coach, attracts even those children who usually do not like the PE classes. A health coach, as an extra resource in school, can make a difference concerning increased physical activity for young school children. References Strong, W.B., Malina, R.M., Blimkie, C.J.R., Daniels, S.R., Dishman, R.K., Gutin, B., Hergenroeder, A.C., … & Trudeau, F. (2005). Evidence Based Physical Activity for School-age Youth. The Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 146, Issue 6, p. 732-737 Janssen, I. & LeBlanc, A. (2010). Systematic review of health benefits of physical activity and fitness in school-aged children and youth. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2010, 7:40.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Physical activity

school

health promotion

children

health coach

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)