Physical Activity Interventions in the School Setting

Dear Colleagues,

Physical inactivity represents a paramount public health concern globally, and COVID-19 has exacerbated the challenges involved with physical activity promotion. There is international consensus that the school environment offers a natural venue for early intervention to increase the physical activity behavior of children and adolescents and, optimally, promote positive trajectories of health across the lifespan. Nevertheless, despite mounting efforts to generate desired changes in school practices and youth physical activity during both regular (in-person) and alternative (virtual, hybrid) programming, sustainable shifts in dominant education paradigms (i.e., the way schools operate) and widescale impact on the physical inactivity pandemic remain elusive.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to consolidate cutting-edge scholarship addressing the topic of physical activity interventions in the school setting. Papers introducing innovative approaches to such interventions, with careful attention to overcoming known barriers to effective implementation and continuation of physical activity promotion through schools, are of particular interest. A broad range of article types will be considered, including conceptual/theoretical models, reviews (e.g., narrative, systematic, scoping), meta-analyses, descriptive/correlational analyses, experimental designs, qualitative methods, mixed-methods, and instrument development. Attention to diversity and issues of equity is encouraged. Submissions with strong scientific foundations (e.g., theoretical, methodological) and explicit translation of research to practice will be given priority.

Prof. Dr. Collin A. Webster
Guest Editor

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