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. 2024 Jun 11;19(6):e0303033.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303033. eCollection 2024.

Move Well, Feel Good: Feasibility and acceptability of a school-based motor competence intervention to promote positive mental health

Stuart J Fairclough  1 , Lauren Clifford  1 , Lawrence Foweather  2 , Zoe R Knowles  2 , Lynne M Boddy  2 , Emma Ashworth  3 , Richard Tyler  1
Affiliations

Move Well, Feel Good: Feasibility and acceptability of a school-based motor competence intervention to promote positive mental health

Stuart J Fairclough et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: In response to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown measures Move Well, Feel Good (MWFG) was developed as a school intervention using improvement of motor competence as a mechanism for promoting positive mental health. Study objectives were to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of MWFG and to describe changes in child-level outcomes.

Methods: Five northwest England primary schools were recruited. MWFG was delivered over 10-weeks through physical education (PE) lessons, which were supplemented by optional class-time, break-time, and home activities. The intervention focused on development of 9-10 year-old children's motor competence in locomotor, object control, and stability skills, and psychosocial skills. Feasibility was evaluated against nine pre-defined criteria using surveys, interviews (teachers), and focus groups (children). Pre- and post-intervention assessments of motor competence, mental health, prosocial behaviour, wellbeing, and 24-hour movement behaviours were also completed.

Results: The five recruited schools represented 83% of the target number, 108 children consented (54% of target) with teachers recruited in all schools (100% of target). Intervention dose was reflected by 76% of the 45 scheduled PE lessons being delivered, and adherence was strong (>85% of children attending ≥75% of lessons). Positive indicators of acceptability were provided by 86% of children, 83% of PE teachers, and 90% of class teachers. Data collection methods were deemed acceptable by 91% of children and 80% of class teachers, and children spoke positively about participating in the data collection. Child-level outcome data collection was completed by 65%-97% of children, with a 3%-35% attrition rate at post-intervention, depending on measure. Favourable changes in motor competence (+13.7%), mental health difficulties (-8.8%), and prosocial behaviour (+7.6%) were observed.

Conclusions: MWFG is an acceptable and feasible motor competence intervention to promote positive mental health. Content and delivery modifications could inform progression to a pilot trial with a more robust design.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow of participants through the Move Well, Feel Good feasibility intervention (based on CONSORT flow diagram).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Drawing from a boy aged 10, illustrating the activities that were memorable to him throughout the MWFG programme.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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