Published 22 September 2021 at 09.14
Domestic. Can physical exercise and homework under the auspices of the school increase students' mental health and school results? Sweden is now launching a test in which 2,500 students in 50 schools will be offered to participate.
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Studies show that few young people reach the recommendation of 60 minutes of daily physical activity. At the same time, an increased incidence of self-rated mental illness and reduced well-being among young people is reported.
Trials will now test how pupils in year 8 are affected by extended school days with scheduled physical activity, audio books and supportive homework.
The aim is to investigate whether these activities contribute to improved mental and physical health, cognition and school performance and reduce inequality in health among schoolchildren.
– There is a social inequality in health from an early age, which may be due to unequal opportunities for physical activity in leisure time or inequality to what extent as guardians support school work at home, says associate professor Gisela Nyberg who is responsible for the research.
– We want to be able to give the school concrete tools for to improve students' well-being, so that we can all carry out sustainable and long-term work for the future.
Skandia's foundation Ideas for Life is the main financier in the study and sees that it research can be part of a solution in the preventive work for children's health and development.
– We already know today that exercise and health are crucial for feeling good and being able to present. Based on the results of the research, the school days will be able to be adapted so that children and young people become healthier and learn more. It would be a win for both student and society, says Stina Liljekvist, chairman of Skandia's foundation Ideas for Life.