239698 Improving self-esteem among elementary school children: A comparison of aerobic, mind-body, and conventional exercises

Monday, October 31, 2011

Chunyun Wang, PhD , Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Dong-Chul Seo, PhD , Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Roy Geib, PhD , School of Medicine, Indiana University, Terre Haute, IN
Marieke Van Puymbroeck, PhD, CTRS , Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Problem: Epidemiological studies have shown that appropriately 20% of Americans have a mental health disorder, which is associated with poor academic performance, school failure, and disruptive behaviors among school children. Studies indicate that regular exercise may effectively improve self-esteem, thereby, help improve mental health. However, little is known which kind of exercise is most effective in improving self-esteem among a pediatric population.

Method: A pre-and post-test quasi-experimental control group design was used. Comparative effects in improving self-esteem were measured using the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale for Children which compared three different exercise modalities: 1) aerobic exercise, 2) mind-body exercise, and 3) traditional physical education activities, before and after a 16-week intervention.

Result: Seventy two children with the mean age of nine years completed this study at two Title 1 elementary schools in southern Indiana. Of the 72 children, 88% were white and 42% were boys. The repeated measures analyses of variance revealed a significant improvement in self-esteem (F (1, 69) =19.63, p<.01) for all the three groups. There was no significant group x time interaction effect.

Conclusion and Implication: The finding that overall self-esteem scores significantly increased in all the three groups indicates that the three modes of exercises have similar effects in terms of improving self-esteem among elementary school children. Health Qigong, a traditional Eastern mind-body program, may be considered as an alternative exercise modality to improve mental health of children who might not fit well to or who do not like the conventional exercise programs.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Problem: Epidemiological studies have shown that appropriately 20% of Americans have a mental health disorder, which is associated with poor academic performance, school failure, and disruptive behaviors among school children. Studies indicate that regular exercise may effectively improve self-esteem, thereby, help improve mental health. However, little is known which kind of exercise is most effective in improving self-esteem among a pediatric population. Method: A pre-and post-test quasi-experimental control group design was used. Comparative effects in improving self-esteem were measured using the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale for Children which compared three different exercise modalities: 1) aerobic exercise, 2) mind-body exercise, and 3) traditional physical education activities, before and after a 16-week intervention. Result: Seventy two children with the mean age of nine years completed this study at two Title 1 elementary schools in southern Indiana. Of the 72 children, 88% were white and 42% were boys. The repeated measures analyses of variance revealed a significant improvement in self-esteem (F (1, 69) =19.63, p<.01) for all the three groups. There was no significant group x time interaction effect. Conclusion and Implication: The finding that overall self-esteem scores significantly increased in all the three groups indicates that the three modes of exercises have similar effects in terms of improving self-esteem among elementary school children. Health Qigong, a traditional Eastern mind-body program, may be considered as an alternative exercise modality to improve mental health of children who might not fit well to or who do not like the conventional exercise programs.

Keywords: Child Health Promotion, Exercise

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Because it is part of my dissertation study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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