24-hour recommendations outline that for children to attain optimal health, they should achieve high levels of physical activity, low levels of sedentary behaviour, and sufficient sleep, yet most young people fail to meet all three guidelines. Schools have been suggested as the ideal setting for health-promoting interventions.
The Happy Homework curriculum-based intervention was created in 2019 and was developed to encourage children and their families to increase physical activity, reduce sedentary behaviour and improve sleep. Initial research has provided some useful insights, but there is a need for further refinement.
To progress the work, a technology-driven intervention which aims to reduce the time and costs associated with the implementation of Happy Homework will be created.
This project will include three stages:
1. A review of existing interventions targeting any of the 24-hour health behaviours in the home setting to explore the empirical research on the effects of such interventions on primary school children’s health.
2. Undertake interviews/focus groups with key stakeholders to co-produce and refine the Happy Homework curriculum-based intervention.
3. Conduct a mixed-methods study to explore acceptability, fidelity, dose and change in 24-hour health behaviours of participants. Semi-structured interviews will also be undertaken to explore the extent to which the revised intervention meets the needs of teachers, parents, and stakeholders.
We anticipate that the project will reach a wide range of individuals including those at most risk of not meeting recommended levels of 24-hour health behaviours. The revised intervention may be used within a variety of education authorities.
Our research interests map to UN SDG 2 Zero Hunger, 3 Good Health and Well-being, 4 Quality Education, 5 Gender Equality and 10 Reduced Inequality.
The candidate will have strong interests in the development of e-health interventions to improve the overall health and wellbeing of primary school children and their families, through the promotion of health conducive activity behaviours.
Programme Start Date: 1st October 2023
Application Deadline - 31/08/2023
Start Date - 01/10/2023
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