Effects of an eight-month exercise intervention programme on physical activity and decrease of anxiety in elementary school children

Abstract

Background. The World Health Organization recommends children to participate in sufficient PA by engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least 60 min daily per week. Schools are important settings for the promotion of children’s physical activity. Through commuting, breaks, and physical education lessons they provide regular opportunities for children to be active. Methods. The experimental group included 36 girls and 34 boys aged 6-7 years old. Their mean weight and height were 24.3 ± 0.9 kg and 1.25 ± 0.11 m for the girls, and 29.3 ± 0.6 kg and 1.33 ± 0.09 m for the boys. The control group included 35 girls and 33 boys aged 6–7 years old, attending the same school. Their mean weight and height were 22.3 ± 0.7 kg and 1.24 ± 0.1 m for the girls, and 28.4 ± 0.7 kg and 1.36 ± 0.07 m for the boys. The methodology of innovative physical education classes was based on the DIDSFA model (dynamic exercise, intense motor skill repetition, differentiation, physical activity distribution in the classroom). The evaluation of physical activity. Children’s Physical Activity Questionnaire (Corder et al., 2009) was used. It was also based on the Children’s Leisure Activities Study Survey (CLASS) questionnaire. The measurement of anxiety – the methodology of Reynolds and Richmond (1994). Results. The post-test of the experimental group boys (1320.24 MET, min/week) was to analyse average physical activity in comparison with the girls of the experimental group (840.60 MET, min/week). Statistically significant difference was found during the analysis of average MET per boy (1390.45 MET, in/week) in comparison with the girls (880.27 MET, min/week, p < .05). The results of the somatic anxiety in EG (5.54 ± 1.18 points) before the experiment and after it showed that after the intervention programme somatic anxiety in EG was 5.08 ± 1.09 points. This demonstrates lower levels of depression, seclusion, somatic complaints, aggression and delinquent behaviour (F = 4.895, p < .05, P = 0.550). Conclusion. It was established that properly construed and purposefully applied complex of the eight-month exercise intervention programme for elementary school children led to statistically significant changes in the dependent variables: increased physical activity and decreased anxiety for the experimental group.

Predictores de la somnolencia, satisfacción con los estudios y el cansancio emocional en estudiantes con altas capacidades intelectuales durante la pandemia COVID-19

“…Sin embargo, hay estudios realizados en estudiantes regulares o promedio que indican una correlación negativa y débil entre la actividad física y la ansiedad (Legey et al, 2017;Yli-Piipari et al, 2009). Incluso, otros estudios han demostrado que la actividad física es un predictor de los niveles de ansiedad en estudiantes de primaria (Klizienė et al, 2018).…”

“…No obstante, los estudiantes que presentan síntomas de ansiedad deben ser atendidos por especialistas en salud mental, nutrición y entrenamiento físico. Las intervenciones psicológicas y programas de ejercicio físico, desempeñan un papel determinante en la salud integral de los estudiantes (Conn, 2010;Klizienė et al, 2018). Al respecto, un ensayo controlado aleatorio demostró que el programa de acondicionamiento físico podría mejorar las puntuaciones de ansiedad entre estudiantes universitarios (Aşçi, 2003).…”

In-classroom physical activity breaks program among school children in Sri Lanka: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…The effects of physical activity (PA) on academic achievement ( 1 , 2 ), movement behaviors ( 3 , 4 ) and health outcomes such as body mass index [BMI; ( 5 , 6 )], aerobic fitness ( 7 , 8 ), and psychological health such as stress/ test anxiety levels ( 9 , 10 ) among school children have been long established. However, reports including the elementary education sector highlighted that children should meet the recommended daily PA behavior levels, such as engaging in at least 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA; ( 11 )].…”