View in EDS

What Is Health Education within HPE? A Critical Analysis of Curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand, China and Japan

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: What Is Health Education within HPE? A Critical Analysis of Curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand, China and Japan
Language: English
Authors: Jiayuan Deng (ORCID 0009-0005-2383-2904), Katie Fitzpatrick (ORCID 0000-0002-5028-8933)
Source: Health Education Journal. 2025 84(5):461-473.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Health Education, Curriculum Evaluation, Ethics, Power Structure, Discourse Analysis, Cross Cultural Studies, Physical Fitness, Safety, Diseases, Global Approach, Educational Objectives, Foreign Countries, Comparative Education, Elementary Secondary Education
Geographic Terms: New Zealand, China, Japan
DOI: 10.1177/00178969251320033
ISSN: 0017-8969
1748-8176
Abstract: Objective: With growing international interest in youth mental health as well as the other health issues faced by young people, school health education draws the attention of scholars from both East and West. However, what stands for health education in the context of a 'health and physical education' (HPE) curriculum varies widely between locations internationally. This article considers how we might understand what counts as health education as part of HPE in different policy contexts. Method: Informed by Foucauldian concepts of discourse, knowledge/power, and truth, we used Fairclough's textually oriented discourse analysis to conduct a critical discourse analysis of official HPE curriculum policy in three different nation states (Aotearoa New Zealand, China and Japan). Findings: In Aotearoa New Zealand, curriculum discourse reflects a socio-critical approach to health education within HPE. In China, physical fitness dominates discourse on health education in HPE. In Japan, health education in HPE is directly connected to notions of safety and disease. Conclusion: In each of these three countries' HPE curricula, we can see how global policy discourses construct particular 'truths' about the place and purpose of health education in schools. It is important to understand why different perspectives exist, because these different 'truths' are not just variations in policy content, but also reflect each country's approach to health education as a response to unique challenges and priorities, shaping how health is understood and practised.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1477576
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1477576
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: What Is Health Education within HPE? A Critical Analysis of Curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand, China and Japan
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jiayuan+Deng%22">Jiayuan Deng</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2383-2904">0009-0005-2383-2904</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katie+Fitzpatrick%22">Katie Fitzpatrick</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5028-8933">0000-0002-5028-8933</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Health+Education+Journal%22"><i>Health Education Journal</i></searchLink>. 2025 84(5):461-473.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 13
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+Education%22">Health Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curriculum+Evaluation%22">Curriculum Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethics%22">Ethics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Power+Structure%22">Power Structure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Discourse+Analysis%22">Discourse Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cross+Cultural+Studies%22">Cross Cultural Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+Fitness%22">Physical Fitness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Safety%22">Safety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diseases%22">Diseases</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Global+Approach%22">Global Approach</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Objectives%22">Educational Objectives</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Comparative+Education%22">Comparative Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+Zealand%22">New Zealand</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Japan%22">Japan</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/00178969251320033
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0017-8969<br />1748-8176
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Objective: With growing international interest in youth mental health as well as the other health issues faced by young people, school health education draws the attention of scholars from both East and West. However, what stands for health education in the context of a 'health and physical education' (HPE) curriculum varies widely between locations internationally. This article considers how we might understand what counts as health education as part of HPE in different policy contexts. Method: Informed by Foucauldian concepts of discourse, knowledge/power, and truth, we used Fairclough's textually oriented discourse analysis to conduct a critical discourse analysis of official HPE curriculum policy in three different nation states (Aotearoa New Zealand, China and Japan). Findings: In Aotearoa New Zealand, curriculum discourse reflects a socio-critical approach to health education within HPE. In China, physical fitness dominates discourse on health education in HPE. In Japan, health education in HPE is directly connected to notions of safety and disease. Conclusion: In each of these three countries' HPE curricula, we can see how global policy discourses construct particular 'truths' about the place and purpose of health education in schools. It is important to understand why different perspectives exist, because these different 'truths' are not just variations in policy content, but also reflect each country's approach to health education as a response to unique challenges and priorities, shaping how health is understood and practised.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1477576
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1477576
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/00178969251320033
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 461
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Health Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Curriculum Evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ethics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Power Structure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Discourse Analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cross Cultural Studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physical Fitness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Safety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Diseases
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Global Approach
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Objectives
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Comparative Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: New Zealand
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Japan
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: What Is Health Education within HPE? A Critical Analysis of Curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand, China and Japan
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jiayuan Deng
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Katie Fitzpatrick
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 08
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0017-8969
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1748-8176
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 84
            – Type: issue
              Value: 5
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Health Education Journal
              Type: main
ResultId 1