A Systematic Review of Multi-Component Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) Interventions

To identify, review, and describe multicomponent physical activity (PA) interventions in terms of: (a) number and combination of Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) components, (b) study characteristics, and (c) primary outcomes.

Five electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, PsychInfo, Physical Education Index, Sport Discus, and ERIC).

Included articles were peer-reviewed, written in English language, published since 1987, and included multicomponent school-based interventions.

Data items extracted were: school level, setting, CSPAP component description, health outcomes, academic outcomes, main conclusion, and reference.

Included articles were synthesized by: (1) CSPAP components utilized, and (2) research outcome measured (i.e., health or academic).

Across 32 studies, 11 included physical education plus 1 additional CSPAP component (PE + 1); 10 included PE + 2 additional CSPAP components; 8 included PE + 3 additional CSPAP components; and 1 included all 5 CSPAP components. Two other studies included 2 or 3 CSPAP components without PE. Most interventions targeted health outcomes (94%) rather than academic outcomes (6%).

Multicomponent approaches aligned with CSPAPs are effective in promoting PA and other positive outcomes for youth in schools. Future research should seek to understand effects of CSPAP components on a variety of outcomes and settings.