SCHOOL LEADERSHIP IN ADDRESSING THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL INCOME ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE AMONG JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

The global prevalence of obesity among students is on the rise, primarily associated with sedentary activities and insufficient physical exercise. This study investigated the difference in the level of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle of students across different income levels of parents as well as active lifestyles strategies promoted by school leadership. A total of 900 students from 10 schools and 10 cities in East Java Indonesia participated in the study. The income data of students’ parents was divided into 5 categories based on their income level (very low: n = 360; low: n = 231; medium: n = 123; high: n = 79; very high: n = 107). The research instrument used were Children Physical Activity Questionnaire (CPAQ) and Adolescent Sedentary Activity Questionnaire (ASAQ) to determine level of physical activity (PA) and sedentary lifestyle (SL) respectively. Mann Whitney test indicated that there was a significant difference between the PA and SL level between parents' income in the very low category and the low, medium, high, and very high categories (p<0.05). It appears to be a significant difference in students' physical activity levels across parental income levels, with higher-income parents being able to provide more opportunities for physical activity. However, this relationship is reversed for sedentary behavior with higher-income parents having children engaging in more sedentary activities. Therefore, school leadership is instrumental in both promoting strategies to parents and students for fostering healthy and active lifestyles and ensuring equitable access to physical activities, especially for students from low-income backgrounds.