Alalawi Abdullah, Blank Lindsay, Goyder Elizabeth
Al Qunfudah Health Sciences College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2025 Sep 15;20(9):e0329600. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0329600. eCollection 2025.
The growing global burden of noncommunicable diseases, exacerbated by insufficient physical activity (PA), contributes to a range of adverse physical, mental, and social health outcomes. This is a significant concern in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), where cultural and environmental factors further limit opportunities for PA, particularly among schoolchildren in urban areas.
This study explores the challenges and opportunities related to school-based PA to inform future interventions targeting schoolboys aged 13-15 years in KSA.
Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 school staff members, seven parents and workshops involving 37 male students from two contrasting schools (one private and one public), in Jeddah City, KSA. All participants were recruited via purposive sampling. Follow-up interviews were conducted with a total of nine school staff members at both schools. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify key patterns and insights.
This study found that PA among students was influenced by multiple factors. Individual-level motivators included enjoyment, competition, and perceived health benefits, while barriers included academic pressures and sedentary preferences. Interpersonal influences involved varying levels of support from parents, peers, and teachers. School-related factors such as the physical environment, facilities, and institutional policies also shaped PA availability. At the community-level, participants highlighted the potential for interventions that adapt international programmes to the local context.
This study underscores the need for a multi-dimensional approach to promoting PA among adolescents in Jeddah. Stakeholders should consider piloting and adapting proven international interventions, addressing disparities in school resources, increasing the time allocated for PA within the curriculum, and raising parental awareness about the importance of PA. These steps are essential to creating a supportive environment that fosters improved public health and youth well-being in KSA.
缺乏体育活动加剧了全球非传染性疾病负担的增长，导致一系列不良的身体、心理和社会健康后果。这在沙特阿拉伯王国（沙特）是一个重大问题，该国的文化和环境因素进一步限制了体育活动的机会，尤其是城市地区的学童。
本研究探讨与学校体育活动相关的挑战和机遇，为沙特针对13至15岁男生的未来干预措施提供参考。
通过对16名学校工作人员、7名家长进行半结构化访谈，并在沙特吉达市两所不同学校（一所私立学校和一所公立学校）组织了有37名男学生参与的工作坊，收集定性数据。所有参与者均通过目的抽样招募。对两所学校共9名学校工作人员进行了跟进访谈。采用主题分析法对数据进行分析，以确定关键模式和见解。
本研究发现，学生的体育活动受到多种因素影响。个人层面的激励因素包括乐趣、竞争以及感知到的健康益处，而障碍因素包括学业压力和久坐偏好。人际影响涉及来自家长、同伴和教师的不同程度的支持。与学校相关的因素，如物理环境、设施和机构政策，也影响了体育活动的可及性。在社区层面，参与者强调了将国际项目因地制宜进行干预的潜力。
本研究强调在吉达促进青少年体育活动需要采取多维度方法。利益相关者应考虑试点和调整经过验证的国际干预措施，解决学校资源差异问题，增加课程中分配给体育活动的时间，并提高家长对体育活动重要性的认识。这些步骤对于营造一个支持性环境至关重要，有助于改善沙特的公众健康和青少年福祉。
