Effect of a physical activity program on fitness perception of 9 to 11-year-old schoolchildren

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of a physical activity (PA) program on the fitness perceptions (FP) of nine-to-11-year-old schoolchildren. This quasi-experimental study involved 24 children divided into experimental (EG) and control groups (CG). Perceptions of fitness (FP), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRFP) and muscular strength (MSP) were assessed using the International Physical Fitness Scale (IFIS). Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon U tests were used with significance set at p < .05. Significant differences were found between groups in FP (.000 p < .05), CRFP (.002 p < .05) and MSP (0.02 p < .05), with better perceptions existing in the EG. The estimated effect size was large, indicating real differences between the two groups (FP [CG] = 0.15; FP [EG] = 1.71; CRFP [CG] = 0.15; CRFP [EG] = 2.50; MSP [CG] = 1.14; MSP [EG] = 3 .34). The main findings revealed that the examined PA program had a significantly positive effect on FP both overall and in relation to its cardiorespiratory (CRF) and muscular strength (MS) components. A large effect size was also produced with regards to differences between experimental and control groups. The strategy examined here could be applied in schools and may also influence psychological, academic and social outcomes.El objetivo fue analizar el efecto de un programa de actividad física (AF) sobre el fitness percibido (FP) de escolares de nueve a 11 años. Este estudio cuasi-experimental involucró a 24 niños divididos en grupo experimental (GE) y grupo control (GC). Los componentes FP, aptitud cardiorrespiratoria percibida (CRFP) y fuerza muscular percibida (MSP) se evaluaron con la Escala Internacional de Aptitud Física (IFIS). Se utilizaron las pruebas U de Mann-Whitney y Wilcoxon; significación p < .05. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre grupos en FP (.000 p < .05), CRFP (.002 p < .05) y MSP (0.02 p < .05) a favor del GE. El tamaño del efecto estimado es grande para establecer diferencias entre grupos (FP CG = 0.15, FP EG = 1.71, CRFP CG = 0.15, CRFP EG = 2.50, MSP CG = 1.14, MSP EG = 3.34). Los principales hallazgos muestran que un programa de AF tiene un efecto significativamente positivo en la FP y en los componentes de aptitud cardiorrespiratoria (CRF) y fuerza muscular (MS) en comparación con el GC; también produce un gran tamaño del efecto sobre las diferencias entre grupos. Por lo tanto, es una estrategia que podría aplicarse en las escuelas y puede influir en otras áreas como la psicológica, académica y social.