The Value of an Informal Before-School Exercise Opportunity for Adolescent Girls Living in a Low-Socioeconomic Community.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Physical activity is beneficial to physical, social, and emotional well-being, and schools are required to provide opportunities to engage in physical activity. While physical education and school sport have been extensively researched, little is known about the value of informal, unstructured, exercise opportunities.

Methods

This study involved interviews with 19 adolescent girls who attended "extra" exercise opportunities provided by their school. The 3 opportunities were: (1) informal before-school exercise sessions at school, (2) before-school sport training, and (3) externally provided exercise sessions in a community setting during school hours.

Results

Students perceived all opportunities as valuable with benefits to confidence, social well-being, an

SUBMITTER: White RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11748829 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature