School project for brain health - A school-based intervention to improve mental health, cognitive function, academic performance in adolescents

Skolprojektet för hjärnhälsa – En skolbaserad intervention för att förbättra psykisk hälsa, kognitiva funktioner och skolprestation hos ungdomar

Project Leader

Gisela Nyberg

Department

Department of Physical Activity and Health

Research Funders

Knowledge Foundation
Skandias Stiftelse Idéer för livet
The Kamprad Family Foundation
Swedish ESF Council (Council of the European Social Fund in Sweden)

Abstract

Below you can read summaries about the project in English and/or Swedish. The information is taken from the publication database DiVA.

Abstract in English

There has been an increase in self-reported mental health problems in recent years. Also, the majority of adolescents do not reach the physical activity recommendation. In parallel, there is great variation in health, reading and academic performance depending on socioeconomic background. The aim of this study is to develop a universal, collaborative, multi-component intervention and evaluate effects on mental and physical health, cognitive function and academic performance. Also, to provide schools with effective strategies on how to sustainably support healthy brain functions and academic performance in adolescents.

There will be 2 sub-studies: 1) To study the effects of a cluster-randomised school-based intervention. Fifty schools with boys and girls in grade 8 will be invited. The intervention will be performed during an extended school day, 60 minutes three times per week, during one school year and include: a) physical activities, b) homework support with activity breaks and c) walking and listening to audiobooks, 2) To conduct a process evaluation including intervention dose, fidelity, feasibility, acceptability and a description of the context to elucidate facilitating and hindering factors.

Physical activity will be measured by accelerometry, cognitive functions by a computer-based test battery, mental health with questionnaires and academic performance by grades. Effectiveness regarding outcomes between groups will be analysed by mixed effect regression analysis, adjusted for relevant covariates. Qualitative data will be analysed with content analysis.

This cluster-randomised controlled intervention has been conducted in a pilot study during the school year 2021/2022 including 192 adolescents aged 14-15 years from six schools around Stockholm with a variation in socioeconomic background. A second round started in September 2023. Thirteen schools around Stockholm, Sweden with around 400 adolescents in grade 8 are currently participating in the intervention during one school year (23/24). The third round will include schools in Småland and will start in the academic year of 2024/2025. The schools in the wait-list control group will be offered the intervention after the post-intervention measurements.

Increased mental health problems among adolescents require new strategies for preventive work. The results will be of great importance to inform the development of efficient future interventions in schools to promote mental health and facilitate learning in students.

The project is part of E-PABS – a center of Excellence in Physical Activity, healthy Brain functions and Sustainability.

Abstract in Swedish

Självrapporterade psykiska hälsoproblem har ökat bland svenska ungdomar samtidigt som majoriteten av dem inte når upp till rådande rekommendation om fysisk aktivitet. Det finns dessutom en stor variation i hälsa, läsförståelse och skolprestation beroende av socioekonomisk bakgrund.

Syftet med projektet är att utveckla och utvärdera om en intervention under en förlängd skoldag förbättrar psykisk och fysisk hälsa, kognition och skolprestation hos ungdomar. Projektet består av två delstudier som utvecklas i samarbete med skolpersonal, elever och kommuner.

I delstudie 1 studeras effekterna av en skolbaserad intervention på 50 skolor med 2700 ungdomar i årskurs 8 i Stockholm och Småland. Interventionen kommer att genomföras under tre skoldagar per vecka under ett läsår. Dessa skoldagar förlängs med 60 minuter och innehåller:

a) olika fysiska aktiviteter,

b) läxstöd med rörelsepaus och

c) promenera med ljudbokslyssning.

I delstudie 2 genomförs en processutvärdering av främjande och hindrande faktorer. Psykisk hälsa kommer att mätas med frågeformulär, fysisk aktivitet med rörelsemätare, kognition med ett datorbaserat testbatteri och skolprestation med betyg. Kvalitativa data samlas in genom fokusgrupper och intervjuer med studenter, lärare och rektorer.

Resultaten från detta nyskapande projekt kommer att vara av stor betydelse för att utveckla effektiva och hållbara framtida insatser i skolor för att främja en jämlik psykisk och fysisk hälsa och underlätta lärande hos elever.Projektet finansieras av Kunskaps- och kompetensstiftelsen (KK-stiftelsen), Skandia Idéer för livet, Familjen Kamprads stiftelse samt Svenska ESF-rådet (Europeiska Socialfonden). Medverkande i projektet är Skandia, Kronprinsessparets stiftelse/Generation Pep, Storytel, SATS, Permobil, Karolinska Institutet och Linnéuniversitetet. Det sker även i samarbete med utvalda skolor och idrotts- och utbildningsförvaltningarna i Stockholms stad. Detta projekt ingår i forskningsmiljön E-PABS – ett excellenscenter för fysisk aktivitet, hjärnhälsa och hållbarhet.

About the project

Self-reported mental health issues among Swedish adolescents have risen, and many do not meet the current physical activity recommendations. Furthermore, there is significant variation in health, readability, and academic performance across socioeconomic backgrounds.

This project aimed to develop and evaluate whether an intervention consisting of a prolonged school day would improve mental and physical health, cognition, and academic performance among Swedish adolescents. The project comprised two sub-studies conducted in collaboration with school staff, students, and local municipalities.

In the film below (in Swedish), you will learn how GIH can help improve well-being among young people and help them perform better in school. Read more about the initiative below.

The different phases of the project

The project consists of three main phases:

The study begins with measurements before the intervention
During the study, whether some schools conduct the intervention or not.
The end of the study, when follow-up measurements are made

Data collection and intervention

In total, around 1000 adolescents in grade 8 participated in baseline measurements. The adolescents completed surveys to measure mental health and health habits, and they also completed a cognitive test on computers. The research team measured height and weight. Physical activity was measured using hip-worn accelerometers over seven consecutive days. The grades were gathered in grades 7 and 8. Follow-up measurements were conducted after the intervention finished.

In total, 34 schools were randomised into either the intervention or control group. The structure of the intervention consisted of three hours, partly prolonged, school time per week during one school year, with the following activities:

One hour of varied physical activities, tailored to the adolescents' wishes.
One hour of homework support, including activity breaks.
One hour of walking and listening to audiobooks.

The participating schools have conducted the activities with great commitment. The students had a participation rate of over 80% in the activities. The research team has regularly visited the participating schools to explore how the intervention has been experienced and perceived, and to continuously support and inspire the teachers with activities. For example, the researchers created a deck of movement cards for the teachers, including suggestions on exercises at different intensities.

The results from this innovative project are of great importance for developing effective and sustainable future efforts in schools to promote equal mental and physical health and facilitate learning among adolescents.