The Impact of Physical Education on

The Development of a Healthy

Lifestyle Among Upper Secondary Issimdar M. Yaasiin Khan
B.Ed (Hons) Physical Education
Students In Zone 3 Mauritius Institute of Education

Abstract • With respect to major barriers to their engagement with physical

activity and adoption of healthy and healthful lifestyles, there is
the same kind of consciousness about how these need to be
Background: Students' lifestyle behaviors are primarily assessed addressed, through PE classes and school-level initiatives.
on the basis of their participation in physical activity, whether
moderate or vigorous, and inclusive of physical activity and PE
games, at school and beyond (Baruth et al., 2011).
Objective: To investigate the impact of physical education on the Results
development of a healthy lifestyle among upper secondary
Students’ Awareness about the Importance of Physical Education
students in Zone 3.
No. Self-Statement SA A N D SD Total
Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to the
I am aware of the importance of PE in stimulating me to engage
students. A focus group interview was also conducted to 1
with physical activity, regularly and sufficiently. 2 6 2 0 0 10
I am aware of the importance of PE in stimulating me to observe
supplement the results of the questionnaire. 2
healthful dietary (eating and drinking) habits. 2 5 3 0 0 10

Outcomes: Senior high school students are aware of the Total

4 11 5 0 0 20
importance of physical education and understand the benefits of a
healthy lifestyle. Students’ Understandings of the Benefits of healthy lifestyle behaviours
Conclusion: Upper secondary students do not engage in sufficient
No. Self-Statement SA A N D SD Total
physical activity and are prone to excessive sedentary lifestyle
I clearly understand that adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours is
habits. 3
truly essential for my personal health, fitness and well-being. 1 7 2 0 0 10

Introduction
I clearly understand that an excessively sedentary lifestyle, with
4
little physical activity and unhealthy eating and drinking habits,
is detrimental to my personal health and well-being. 1 7 2 0 0 10

Total
2 14 4 0 0 20

During these highly-testing times of COVID-19, worldwide,

educational systems continue to be significantly affected mainly in Barriers to Students’ Adoption of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours

terms of teaching and learning efficiency (Kaur, 2020). School No. Self-Statement SA A N D SD Total
I realize that modern ways of life and consumption of unhealthy
closure negatively affecting the quality of Physical Education (PE) 5
foods or drinks (e.g. fast foods, beer, alcohol, drugs) are serious 0 5 5 0 0 10
risks to my healthy growth towards adulthood.
classes and activities, with the alternative of online teaching and 6
Unduly long hours spent watching TV or on the
computer/laptop/smartphone are quite detrimental to my
learning yet to deliver to expectations (Baczek et al., 2021). personal health, fitness and well-being.
1 6 3 0 0 10

The trend of private tuition during late afternoons and week-

Evidently, engaging with Physical activity, eating and drinking 7
ends is certainly depriving me of opportunities to engage with 3 4 1 1 1 10
healthily, and adopting healthy and active lifestyle behaviours have healthy leisure, sports and game activities.
Inability to keep a healthy balance between study/work/other
8
become particularly problematic (Basuony et al., 2020; Chisadza et forms of physical or mental exertion and sleep and rest to
recuperate is a threat to my health and well-being.
1 6 1 2 0 10

al., 2021). These circumstances appear to me to be a fitting time to Total

5 21 10 3 1 40
investigate, examine, understand and reflect on the relationship
between Physical Education and students’ health, fitness and well- Students’ Self-Assessment of their Lifestyle Behaviours
being. No. Self-Statement SA A N D SD Total
PE has been very useful in developing healthy active lifestyle
9
behaviours in me, in my daily life. 0 4 3 2 1 10

Methods
Through PE I have truly learnt to develop a healthy active
10
lifestyle towards successful accomplishment of my performance 0 3 4 2 1 10
at school and beyond.
Total
0 7 7 4 2 20

A mixed approach is the methodology that is selected to meet the

objectives of the study. In this essence, qualitative and quantitative
approaches are selected. Data Collection Tools: • Questionnaire •
Focus group discussion An online questionnaire (Google Form)
will be designed and send via WhatsApp and Facebook
Messenger to the students for collection of data. Moreover, a
focus group discussion will be conducted with the key informants.
This will be recorded using an audio recorder device and the data
will be analysed by the researcher.
a) The participants will be the upper secondary students and
educators from all schools in Zone 3.
b) Purposive sampling will be used to choose the participants.
Conclusion
• our upper secondary learners of physical education are not in
the free zone, since they do not engage sufficiently, or up to
appreciable levels, in vigorous physical activity, or even
moderate physical activity
• Similarly, they might not be ready, even if perfectly aware of the
risks and dangers to their personal health, fitness, and well-
being, to give up their ‘wired generation’ temptations, exposing
them excessively to adoption and perpetration of excessive
sedentary life habits

References
c) The study will take place in all secondary schools in Zone 3

Data Analysis 1. Bączek, M. , Zagańczyk‐Bączek, M. , Szpringer, M. , Jaroszyński, A. , &

• On the whole upper secondary students appear to be aware, and
hence conscious, about the importance and benefits of PE, as a
meaningful gateway to health, safety and well-being;
• Similarly, the same kind of awareness transpires from the counts
regarding the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle, punctuated
by behaviours and attitudes that are taught and promoted via PE
classes and instructional activities;
• Contrarily to their positive levels of awareness, the students
participating to the survey questionnaire have been honest in
acknowledging the inadequate measures of engagement with
physical activity and observing healthful dietary habits
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