Exploring undergraduate experiences in physical education and health: A photovoice study of Indonesian students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17977/um086v3i22025p82-98Keywords:
higher education, lived experience, participatory research, photovoice, physical education, undergraduate student experienceAbstract
Background: Research on undergraduate students in Physical Education (PE) and Health particularly in Indonesia and the Global South has predominantly relied on quantitative indicators, often neglecting students’ lived, embodied, and emotional experiences within demanding academic and physical environments. Objective: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Indonesian undergraduate students enrolled in PE and Health programs and to examine how these experiences can inform more responsive and inclusive educational practices. Methods: A qualitative participatory design was employed using photovoice. Eight undergraduate students documented their academic and personal experiences through photography over a two-week period, followed by reflective writing and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed thematically through collaborative coding, guided by experiential learning principles. Result: Three central themes emerged. First, Balancing Academic and Physical Demands revealed a dual burden of physical exhaustion and academic discipline. Second, Identity, Belonging, and Community highlighted the vital role of peer, family, and social support in sustaining motivation and resilience. Third, Navigating Uncertainty and Emotional Pressure reflected students’ anxieties related to career prospects, professional readiness, and structural constraints within the field of physical education. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that photovoice effectively captures nuanced student experiences often overlooked by conventional approaches, while simultaneously fostering reflection and empowerment. Engaging students as co-constructors of knowledge offers valuable insights for developing more student-centered, supportive, and inclusive learning environments in Physical Education and Health programs.References
Aquino, J. . M., & Reyes, M. G. (2022). The Relationship of Sports Participation in Academic Performance among College of Arts and Sciences Varsity Players. Physical Education and Sports: Studies and Research, 1(2), 107-122.
Boyce, B. A., Lund, J. L., Napper-Owen, G., & Almarode, D. (2019). Doctoral students’ perspectives on their training as researchers in higher education. Quest, 71(3), 277-288.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
Burnett, C. (2021). A national study on the state and status of physical education in South African public schools. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 26(2), 179-196.
Bvumbwe, T., & Mtshali, N. (2018). Photovoice and empowerment: Evaluating the transformative potential of a participatory action research project. BMC Public Health, 18, Article 304.
Cornwall, A., & Jewkes, R. (1995). What is participatory research? Social Science & Medicine, 41(12), 1667–1676. [Crossref]
Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education. Macmillan.
Fatoni, M., Syaukani, A. A., Indarto, P., Saputro, I. N., & Musyfiroh, I. H. (2025). Psychosocial predictors of academic achievement in physical education among Indonesian university students: Testing the mediating role of mental toughness. Physical Education and Sports: Studies and Research, 4(3), 291-301.
Haffejee, F. (2021). The use of photovoice to transform health science students into critical thinkers. BMC Medical Education, 21(1), 237.
Harley, K., Stylianou, M., & Goodyear, V. (2023). The use of photovoice in youth health education programs: A systematic review. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 42(3), 1–12.
Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice Hall. [Crossref]
Larrán Jorge, M., & Andrades Peña, F. J. (2017). Analysing the literature on university social responsibility: A review of selected higher education journals. Higher Education Quarterly, 71(4), 302-319.
Lorusso, J. R., Johnson, A. M., Morrison, H. J., Stoddart, A. L., Bordua, C., Cameron, N., Lim, C., & Price, C. (2020). Graduate student experience in focus: A photovoice investigation of physical and health education graduate students in Canada. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 25(6), 643–665.
Nopiyanto, Y. E., Raibowo, S., & Yarmani, Y. (2022). Stress level of physical education students in completing thesis at Universitas Bengkulu. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 10(1), 15–22.
Pearson, M., Evans, T., & Macauley, P. (2016). The diversity and complexity of settings and arrangements forming the ‘experienced environments’ for doctoral candidates: some implications for doctoral education. Studies in Higher Education, 41(12), 2110-2124.
Strack, R. W., Magill, C., & McDonagh, K. (2004). Engaging youth through photovoice. Health Promotion Practice, 5(1), 49–58.
Stylianou, M., Enright, E., & Hogan, A. (2017). Learning to be researchers in physical education and sport pedagogy: the perspectives of doctoral students and early career researchers. Sport, Education and Society, 22(1), 122-139.
Sugianto, C. A., Hidayah, N., & Handayani, S. (2022). Academic motivation of Indonesian university students: Relationship with self-compassion and resilience. Healthcare, 10(10), 2092.
Supriyanto, A., Prakoso, B. B., Nopiyanto, Y. E., Setyawan, A., & Aprilanti, I. W. (2024). Physical fitness and mental health levels of university students in Indonesia. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 12(1), 1–8.
Veloo, A., & Md-Ali, R. (2016). Physical education teachers challenges in implementing school based assessment. International Review of Management and Marketing, 6(8), 48-53.
Wang, C., & Burris, M. A. (1997). Photovoice: Concept, methodology, and use for participatory needs assessment. Health Education & Behavior, 24(3), 369–387.
Wang, Q., & Hannes, K. (2020). Toward a more comprehensive type of analysis in photovoice research: The development and illustration of supportive question matrices for research teams. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19, 1609406920914712.
Williams, B., Christensen, E., & Occhino, J. (2017). Tinkering through transition: On ‘doctoring’as an early-career academic in physical education and sport pedagogy. Sport, Education and Society, 22(1), 73-86.
Yuliawan, D., Purnama, S., & Septian, A. (2023). Physical activity, stress, and academic performance of university students in blended learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 23(2), 450–457.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Sunarno Basuki, Perdinanto Perdinanto, Akhmad Amirudin
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
