Health through sports: Sports activities of various kinds can affect the practitioner, in this case children and young people, in a variety of ways. 197For children to function effectively cognitively, development of good executive function (such as motivation, ability to set goals, and self-control) is also required, which can be stimulated by participation in sports. There are of course other activities, too, that affect cognitive functions such as playing a musical instrument or dancing. 198,199,200 Health through dance and music: There should be a range of physical activities available to choose from. Dance is a social form of physical activity that is popular with young people. It emphasises the expressive, creative, aesthetic, emotional, and social aspects of physical activity. A dissertation project evaluated the health and cost-effectiveness of supplementing school health care with dance for girls aged 13 and 18 who experienced psychosomatic disorders, stress, and/or depression. 201 In the randomised study, the intervention group was allowed to dance for 75 minutes twice a week after school hours for eight months. The focus was not on performance, the goal was to dance just for the enjoyment of dance itself, not to achieve perfection or rehearse for a show. Dancing was appreciated by the participants; attendance was high and selfesteemed health was enhanced. The intervention was cost-effective through fewer visits to the school nurse and improved quality of life. Based on these studies, the following building blocks were recommended for a successful intervention: focus on joy of movement, co-determination and creativity, demand, strengthened contact with one’s own body, and collaboration and social interaction. 202
Knowledge gaps and concerns •
In some schools in the Nordic countries gender pedagogy, gender-sensitive pedagogy, gender inclusion, and feminist pedagogy have been introduced as a measure of influencing
Bidzan-Bluma, I., & Lipowska, M. (2018). Physical activity and cognitive functioning of children: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15, 800. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15040800 198 Roden, I., Grube, D., Bongard, S., & Kreutz, G. (2014). Does music training enhance working memory performance? Findings form a quasi-experimental longitudinal study. Psychology and Music, 42, 284– 298. 199 Theorell, T. (2014). Psychological health effects of musical health science. Theories, studies and reflections in music health science. London: Springer. 200 Theorell, T. (2016). Psychophysiological links between cultural activities and public health. In S. Clift & P. M. Camic (Eds.), Oxford textbook of creative arts, health, and wellbeing. International perspectives on practice, policy, and research (pp. 65–72). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 201 Duberg, A. (2016). Dance intervention for adolescent girls with internalizing problems. Effects and experiences. Doctoral thesis, Örebro Studies in Medicine 141. Örebro: Örebro University. 202 Duberg, A., Möller, M., & Taube, J. (2013). Dans kan ge skydd mot psykisk ohälsa [Dance can be protective against mental disorders]. Läkartidningen, 110, CDTT, 1–3. 197
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