Holistic Wellness Education and Student Engagement in MAPEH Learning

Abstract

This study explored how MAPEH classrooms became spaces where wellness, expression, movement, and participation shaped students’ engagement in learning. It determined the level of holistic wellness education and student engagement in MAPEH learning and examined which wellness education dimensions most strongly influenced engagement. Using a quantitative wellness-engagement mapping design, the study gathered data from secondary students of Dicamay National High School through a validated and reliability-tested survey questionnaire. The instrument measured holistic wellness education in terms of physical wellness integration, emotional and mental wellness support, social connectedness, creative expression, and health literacy application. It also measured student engagement in terms of behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and social engagement. Weighted mean, standard deviation, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, bootstrapping, coefficient of determination, and Importance-Performance Map Analysis were used to analyze the data. Results showed that holistic wellness education was highly evident, particularly in health literacy application and physical wellness integration, while creative expression emerged as the least developed dimension. Student engagement was also high, with behavioral and social engagement showing stronger levels than cognitive engagement. Structural results revealed that emotional and mental wellness support was the strongest predictor of engagement, followed by social connectedness, physical wellness integration, and creative expression. Health literacy application was highly practiced but did not significantly predict engagement. The model substantially explained student engagement, indicating that wellness-oriented MAPEH instruction contributed meaningfully to learner participation. The study concluded that MAPEH engagement improved when instruction supported students’ emotional safety, creativity, movement, belonging, and practical wellness awareness.