Effect of a Game-Based Physical Education Program on Physical Fitness and Mental Health in Elementary School Children

Armando Cocca, Francisco Espino Verdugo, Luis Tomás Ródenas Cuenca and Michaela Cocca
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Armando Cocca: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria
Francisco Espino Verdugo: School of Sports Organization, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Mexico
Luis Tomás Ródenas Cuenca: School of Sports Organization, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Mexico
Michaela Cocca: School of Sports Organization, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Mexico

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-13

Abstract: Promotion of healthy active behaviors should start from early ages, as behaviors learned in youth are more likely to endure. A fundamental body of research in this field focuses on the implementation of programs within physical education (PE), thanks to its favorable characteristics. However, traditional PE based on exercise training and controlling styles seems to have weaker association with students’ health benefits. For this reason, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of a game-based PE program on physical fitness and psychological health in schoolchildren aged 10 to 12 years old. A total of 252 students were distributed in experimental (EG, games-centered activities) and control (CG, traditional exercise training activities) groups. The program lasted 6 months. Health-related physical fitness components, psychological wellbeing, self-esteem, stress, and anxiety were assessed before and after the treatment. Both groups increased physical fitness at post-test; however, cardiorespiratory fitness did not improve. No differences were found between the groups at post-test. Our results show that games may be as effective as traditional training methods; yet, they suggest that PE alone may be insufficient for obtaining substantive benefits in cardiorespiratory fitness, regardless of the type of task presented.

Keywords: physical education; children; physical fitness; psychological health; games; exercise training (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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