Do school characteristics, based on the Comprehensive School Health Framework, contribute to youth meeting national physical activity recommendations over time?

Abstract

Canadian youth are insufficiently active, and schools may play a role in promoting student physical activity (PA). Based on the Comprehensive School Health (CSH) framework, this study examined whether school characteristics are associated with secondary school students meeting national PA recommendations over time.

We used COMPASS survey data from 78 schools in Ontario and Alberta and 9870 Grade 9 and 10 students attending those schools. Students who provided two years of linked PA data (2013/14 and 2015/16) and gender were included. Multilevel analysis was conducted by gender, evaluating the relationship of school-level characteristics (guided by CSH) with students achieving all three PA recommendations after two years (≥ 60 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA, vigorous PA ≥ 3 days/week, strengthening activities ≥ 3 days/week).

More than half (56.9%) of students achieving the PA recommendations at baseline were no longer achieving them after two years, and just a quarter (25.6%) of students not achieving the recommendations at baseline achieved them after two years. School-level factors were significantly associated with students achieving the recommendations, but these factors differed by student strata (i.e. by gender and baseline PA status). Generally, student access to equipment, public health partnerships and staff time for health were associated with increased odds of achieving the PA recommendations for certain students.

Modifications to school characteristics within CSH may play a role in supporting students in achieving or continuing to achieve the PA recommendations after two years. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying dynamics of the observed relationships.