Young voices propose solutions to boost physical activity levels post-pandemic
Teenagers in England’s most deprived areas are calling for more affordable sports clubs and improved school facilities after reflecting on the detrimental effects of lockdowns.
Key Findings
- Young people stress the importance of safe, accessible spaces to increase activity levels. They highlight schools as vital hubs to promote movement, alongside improved access to sports clubs.
- The pandemic drastically altered their daily routines, with active habits like walking to school being replaced by increased screen time and prolonged periods in bed, resulting in a significant decline in their overall movement.
- The elimination of PE during online learning and the focus on academic catch-up during winter lockdowns further diminished opportunities to enjoy healthy, active lifestyles.
- Covid-19 exacerbated long-standing barriers to physical activity for teenagers in underserved communities. Their insights could be crucial in mitigating the long-term impacts of the pandemic on the most affected groups.
Source*
Alliott, O., Fairbrother, H. & van Sluijs, E. Adolescents’ physical activity during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative study exploring the experiences of young people living in the context of socioeconomic deprivation. BMC Public Health 24, 2450 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19777-z
*All evidence briefs are informed by one or more peer reviewed research studies. All study publications used to inform this article are listed at the bottom of this brief with links.
What's this about?
Reduced daily movement during the pandemic triggered a series of negative effects including weight gain, diminished self-confidence, and compromised well-being.
Young people from England's most deprived areas are calling for safer, more affordable spaces to be active in their community, alongside better and more varied school-based opportunities, a 2024 study reveals.
These recommendations come after teenagers describe how lockdowns severely limited their ability to stay active, with disrupted routines, school closures, and the removal of PE from online learning all contributing to reduced daily movement.
While many people spent more time in front of screens and had lower activity levels during the pandemic, research indicates this group was among the hardest hit.1 However, until now, young people's voices have largely been absent from studies exploring the challenges teenagers faced when trying to pursue an active lifestyle during the pandemic.
To address this, researchers at the University of Cambridge interviewed 13- to 18-year-olds from the UK's most deprived areas. They asked them about their physical activity experiences before, during, and after the pandemic, as well as their ideas on what can be done now to help.2
In addition to offering key recommendations, the study highlights how young people experienced not just a decline in daily movement during lockdowns, but also a cascade of personal consequences, including loss of fitness, weight gain, intrusive thoughts, diminished self-confidence, and compromised well-being.
Aside from the challenges the pandemic presented, these young people have long experienced more barriers to staying active than their more affluent peers. They often can’t afford sports clubs, have limited means of travelling to extra-curricular activities, and have less time to join in because of after-school jobs.
These findings come at a crucial time, as communities continue to grapple with the pandemic's lingering effects. With physical activity levels remaining stagnant, incorporating young people's perspectives into policies could be key to reducing inequalities and implementing changes that are effective in boosting daily movement.
Research Toolkit
Young people from England’s most deprived areas reveal key insights to boost activity levels and well-being:
KEY ACTIONS
- PRIORITISE AFFORDABILITY AND SAFETY
- Strive to make physical activities affordable and safe. Look for potential ways to use and refurbish existing resources and spaces to provide more inclusive opportunities.
- ADDRESS MULTIFACETED BARRIERS
- Consider long-standing obstacles to participation (e.g., financial constraints, transport issues, after-school jobs), working with young people to develop targeted solutions (e.g., offering lunchtime clubs if time after school is limited).
- RECOGNISE BROADER IMPACTS
- Be aware that reduced physical activity has led to various negative outcomes, from weight gain to lower self-confidence. Keep these impacts in mind when engaging young people, as they may influence participation and behaviour.
- PROMOTE ACTIVE ROUTINES
- Encourage the adoption and re-establishment of structured routines that incorporate daily movement (e.g., walking to school or the bus stop) to counter the significant decline in activity levels during lockdowns.
WHAT ELSE
- EMPOWER YOUTH CHOICE
- Enable adolescents to choose their preferred form of movement. Offering a variety of options, particularly to older teens, could increase participation and enjoyment.
- HARNESS PEER RELATIONSHIPS
- Facilitate group activities where possible, recognising that friends play a crucial role in supporting active lifestyles. This is especially important in communities where parents may have limited capacity to encourage participation.
- EXPAND PE OFFERING
- Broaden the range of activities in PE classes to engage more students. Including non-competitive sports and games may encourage participation from those less interested in traditional offerings (e.g., soccer/netball).
- HIGHLIGHT WELL-BEING BENEFITS
- Raise awareness of links between physical activity and mental health. Develop targeted support for those with mental health challenges to become more physically active, emphasising the benefits of an active lifestyle.
Related Topics
- Physical activity
- Pandemic
- Secondary school
- Covid
- Lockdowns
- Inequalities
- Physical education
Research Sources
1. The Health Foundation (2020), Generation COVID-19: Building the case to protect young people’s future health; 2. Alliott et al., 2024
