Nature-based physical ActiviTy for Us and the Related Environment: Co-creating a Physical Activity and NATURE intervention for adolescents

The World Health Organisation Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 highlights inter-connections between physical activity in nature, health and climate action in the context of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with stakeholder involvement acknowledged as key. The health benefits of physical activity can be amplified when in nature and extended to pro-environmental behaviours through human-nature connectedness. Yet, physical activity, nature connectedness and nature exposure decline in the child-adolescent transition, making this vulnerable time of life key for intervention and lifelong impact. This project used a participatory research design to co-create an intervention to enhance physical activity in nature among adolescents. We conducted a three-stage workshop series with adolescents aged 10-13 years, parents, teachers and wider stakeholders, including those working in education, public health, physical activity and sport, environmental organisations, youth services, and local government. The participants provided views on a draft set of intervention strategies and behaviour change techniques, drawing on our previous data on adolescent nature-based physical activity barriers and facilitators and aligned ‘COM-B’ analysis to understand these influences in relation to Capability, Opportunity and Motivation. Researcher-facilitated discussions using age-appropriate creative methods included a needs assessment of what helps or hinders nature-based physical activity engagement and what stakeholders deemed acceptable, practicable and potentially effective (drawing on APEASE: Acceptability, Practicability, Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness, Affordability, Spill-over/side effects and Equity criteria) in the co-created intervention.