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ERIC Number: EJ1461156
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Mar
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: EISSN-1746-1561
Available Date: 2024-12-26
The Continued Implementation and Perceived Impact of an Elementary School Wellness Policy after Extended COVID-19-Related School Closures
Deborah A. Olarte1; Katie Cueva2; Christina D. Economos3; Kenneth Chui4; Brittany Rodvik2; Juliana F. W. Cohen5,6
Journal of School Health, v95 n3 p247-253 2025
Background: Schools play a key role in children's health. Following COVID-19, programs that promote students' well-being are needed more than ever. This study examines the continuation of a wellness initiative in Anchorage, Alaska, in the 2021-2022 school year. Methods: Interviews were conducted with n = 25 principals and cafeteria managers. Content analyses of the qualitative data were conducted using an immersion/crystallization approach. Codes were grouped to create themes contained under larger domains. Results: All schools continued aspects of the wellness initiative following COVID-19. Principals and cafeteria managers indicated: recess, movement opportunities, and longer lunch periods are important for mental health, socialization, and relationship building; COVID-19 exacerbated previous challenges with staffing shortages; additional pressure for the academic time made scheduling the wellness initiative challenging; longer lunch periods give younger students time to eat but cause poor behavior in older students which were alleviated through supportive strategies; and 30-minute recess and movement breaks offer more time to move, reset, and focus on schoolwork. Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity: The study underscores the importance of school administrators integrating wellness initiatives into their policies, with buy-in from school and district leadership. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for and importance of school wellness initiatives following COVID-19 extended school closures.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Alaska (Anchorage)
Grant or Contract Numbers: R01HD107492
Data File: URL: www.ashaweb.org
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York, New York, USA; 2Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, USA; 3Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; 4Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; 5Department of Nutrition & Public Health, School of Nursing and Health Science, Merrimack College, North Andover, Massachusetts, USA; 6Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA