EXPLORING THE NEXUS BETWEEN HEALTH-ENHANCING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Autori

  • Simon Kormla Donkor Department of Basic Education, School of Education and Life-Long Learning, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana orcid.org/0009-0000-9819-1607

##semicolon##

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejpe.v12i8.6183

##semicolon##

physical activity##common.commaListSeparator## environmental sustainability##common.commaListSeparator## health-enhancing##common.commaListSeparator## physical education##common.commaListSeparator## student engagement##common.commaListSeparator## eco-friendly practices

Abstrakt

This study examined the relationship between health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) and environmental sustainability. Guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM), this study used a positivist research philosophy and quantitative approach and a correlational research design. The study employed a stratified sampling technique to select 390 students. Data were collected through a self-developed questionnaire with a Cronbach's reliability coefficient of 0.84 and analysed using frequency, percentages, means, standard deviations, as well as Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation. Findings indicate that students engage in moderate but mostly structured physical activities, with academic workload and screen time as key barriers to self-initiated participation. While students recognize the importance of environmental sustainability, their active engagement in sustainability efforts remains limited. A moderate but statistically positive relationship was found between physical activity engagement and environmental sustainability attitudes, suggesting that integrating eco-friendly initiatives into physical education can enhance both student participation and environmental responsibility.  The study recommends incorporating sustainability-focused activities such as eco-walks, recycling programs, and awareness campaigns in schools. These strategies can promote independent physical activity while fostering environmental stewardship, contributing to holistic student well-being and ecological consciousness.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter

##submission.authorBiography##

  • ##submission.authorWithAffiliation##

    Simon Kormla Donkor is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Basic Education at the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. He has held several key positions including Internship Coordinator, Faculty of Educational Studies Examinations Officer, Supported Teaching in Schools Coordinator, and presently serves as academic counsellor and the Examinations Coordinator at the Institute for Teacher Education and Continuing Professional Development (ITECPD) at the University of Education, Winneba. He is currently pursuing a PhD in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Sports at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Simon holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sports from the University of Education, Winneba (2012–2014). He also earned his undergraduate degree from the Department of Health, Physical Education and Sports at the University of Cape Coast, and completed a three-year Post-Secondary Teacher Training Certificate program at Amedzofe Training College (now E. P. College of Education) from 2001 to 2004. His teaching and research interests encompass Physical Education, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Teacher Education and Classroom Practices, as well as Environmental Sustainability through Physical Education. He has actively participated in various symposiums and research projects that contribute to physical education pedagogy and innovations in Ghana.

##submission.citations##

Bailey R. (2006). Physical education and sport in schools: a review of benefits and out-comes. The Journal of School Health, 76(8), 397–401. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00132.x

Becker, M. H. (1974). The Health Belief Model and Personal Health Behavior. Health Ed-ucation Monographs, 2(4), 324-508. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/109019817400200407

Bélanger, M., Donovan, D., & Jacob, L. (2011). Influence of screen time on physical activ-ity in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Journal of Public Health, 33(3), 222-232.

Biddle, S. J. H., Asare, M., & Vella, S. A. (2019). Physical activity and health outcomes in children and adolescents: An update. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 8(1), 1-13.

Brassington, G. S., Hekler, E. B., Cohen, Z., & King, A. C. (2012). Health-enhancing phys-ical activity. In A. Baum, T. A. Revenson, & J. Singer (Eds.), Handbook of health psy-chology (2nd ed., pp. 353–374). Psychology Press.

Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Cao Z. (2015). Physical Activity Levels and Physical Activity Recommendations in Ja-pan. In: Kanosue K, Oshima S, Oka K, Cao Z, editors. Physical Activity, Exercise, Sedentary Behaviour and Health. Japan: Springer; 2015: 3-15. 6. Fox KR. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-4-431-55333-5

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research Methods in Education (8th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315456539

Davis, J. L., & Elliott, M. (2014). Environmental sustainability in education: The role of school programs. Environmental Education Research, 20(4), 478-499.

Donkor, S. (2025). Exploring Cycling Behaviours and Influences: A Study of Junior High School Students in the Effutu Municipality. Advances in Physical Education, 15(1), 12-31. Doi: 10.4236/ape.2025.151002.

Donkor, S.K & Seibu, M (2019). Closing the Sedentary Lifestyle Gaps: Investigating the Factors Influencing Exercise and Physical Activity Habits among Sandwich Stu-dents of University of Education, Winneba. Journal of Physical Activity Research, 2019, 4(1), 73-79. http://dx.doi.org/10.12691/jpar-4-1-10

Field, A. (2013). Discovering Statistics Using SPSS (4th ed.). Sage Publications. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/Discovering_Statistics_Using_IBM_SPSS_St.html?id=srb0a9fmMEoC&redir_esc=y

Fink, A. (2017). How to Conduct Surveys: A Step-by-Step Guide (6th ed.). Sage Publications. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED565650

Gage, A. J., Adams, D., & Saito, E. (2020). The environmental attitudes of high school students and implications for sustainability education. Journal of Environmental Education, 48(3), 214-229.

Gamage, K. A. A., Dissanayake, D. M. R. S., & Wijesiri, N. S. (2016). Sustainability in Physical Education and Sport. Journal of Sustainability in Education, 12(1), 42-56.

Goh, S. L., & Monyeki, M. A. (2014). Physical activity and health-related fitness among children and adolescents: Evidence from South African studies. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 26(4), 118-123.

Iwuala, S. O, Sekoni, A. O, Olamoyegun, M. A, Akanbi, M. A, Sabir, A. A, Ayankogbe, O. O. (2015). Self-reported physical activity among health care professionals in South-West Nigeria. Niger J ClinPract. 18(7), 790-795. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.4103/1119-3077.163275

Janz, N. K., & Becker, M. H. (1984). The Health Belief Model: A Decade Later. Health Ed-ucation Quarterly, 11(1), 1-47. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019818401100101

Kothari, C. R., & Garg, G. (2019). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques (4th ed.). New Age International Publishers, New Delhi. Retrieved from https://repository.dinus.ac.id/docs/ajar/Kothari_-_Research_Methodology_Methods_and_Techniques_-_2004.pdf

Maxwell, J., McKinley, R., & Johnson, M. (2018). Sustainability in physical education: Promoting environmental responsibility through physical activity. Environmental Education Research, 24(5), 673-689.

Mertens, D. M. (2014). Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology: Integrating Di-versity with Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods (4th ed.). Sage Publications. Retrieved from https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/research-and-evaluation-in-education-and-psychology/book277790

Morrow, J. R., Haskell, W. L., & Blair, S. N. (2018). Physical activity and health: A report of the Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/spotlight/nn/catalog/nlm:nlmuid-101584932X106-doc

Orr, D. W. (2004). Earth in Mind: On Education, Environment, and the Human Prospect. Is-land Press. Retrieved from https://www.uwosh.edu/sirt/wp-content/uploads/sites/86/2017/08/Orr_Earth-in-Mind.pdf

Oyeyemi, A. L, Muhammed. S, Oyeyemi, A. Y, Adegoke, B. O. A, (2017). Patterns of ob-jectively assessed physical activity and sedentary time: Are Nigerian health pro-fessional students complying with public health guidelines? PLoS ONE.12:1-14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190124

Rosenstock, I. M., Strecher, V. J., & Becker, M. H. (1988). Social learning theory and the Health Belief Model. Health Education Quarterly, 15(2), 175-183. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3378902/

Sallis, J. F., Owen, N., & Fisher, E. B. (2012). Ecological models of health behavior. In Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 465-485). Jossey-Bass. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2008-17146-000

Seidu, A. A, Ahinkorah, B. O, Agbaglo, E, Darteh, E.K.M, Ameyaw, E.K., et al. (2020) . Are senior high school students in Ghana meeting WHO’s recommended level of physical activity? Evidence from the 2012 Global School-based Student Health Survey Data. PLOS ONE 15(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229012

Strong, W. B., Malina, R. M., & Blimkie, C. J. R. (2005). Evidence-based physical activity for school-age youth. Journal of Pediatrics, 146(6), 732-737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2005.01.055

UNESCO. (2014). Shaping the future we want: UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organ-isation. Retrieved from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000230171

Wamala S. (2010). Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease. Swe-dish National Institute of Public Health. Sweden: Swedish National Institute of Public Health. http://www.fyss.se/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/fyss_english.pdf Accessed June 28, 2018

WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. PMID: 33369898. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240015128

##submission.downloads##

Publikované

2025-08-05

Číslo

Diel 12 Číslo 8 (2025)

Sekcia

Articles

##submission.license##

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

 

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

 

  1. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

 

  1. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).