Effects Of Smart-quality Physical Education Intervention On Social-emotional Learning And Physical Activity In School-aged Children

Previousstudieshave focused on the effects of social–emotionallearning(SEL)and physicalactivity(PA)interventionson adolescents and young adults, withlimitedresearch examiningthese impactson young children. PURPOSE: To examinethe effectivenessof a 12–weekSmart–QPE (QualityPhysicalEducation)interventioninSEL and PA behaviorsinfourth– andsixth–gradestudents. METHODS: In thissingle–group,within–subjectstudy, 259 fourth– andsixth–gradestudents (meanage = 10 ± 0.77 years)from seven elementary and one middleschoolparticipatedinthisstudy. Students’ engagement inmoderate–to–vigorousphysicalactivity(MVPA)inQPE lessons was objectivelymeasured usingthe Heart Zone Move System over 12 weeks. Two weeks before (pre–test)and after (post–test)the 12–week Smart–QPE intervention,students completed the ModifiedPhysicalActivityQuestionnairefor Children(PAQ–C)toassess variousPA intensitylevels on a 5–pointLikertscale (higherscores indicatinghigheractivitylevels).They also completed a SEL Questionnairemeasuringfivedimensions:Self–Awareness, Self–Management, SocialAwareness, RelationshipSkills,and ResponsibleDecision–Making,withthree itemsper dimensionon a 5–pointratingscale. Pairedsamplet–tests were conducted to examinechanges inPA and SEL from pre– to post–test. RESULTS: Significantincreaseswere observed inSEL for Self–Management and RelationshipSkills(t = 1.671, p = 0.048;t = 1.669, p = 0.048)over time,whileno significantchanges were found inSelf–Awareness, SocialAwareness, and ResponsibleDecision–Making.In addition,pairedsample t–tests revealed significantincreasesinPA duringPE (t = -2.400, p = 0.017),inschool (t = -2.254, p = 0.025),outsideof school (t = -2.071, p = 0.039),and total dailyPA (t = -2.774, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The interventionsignificantlyimprovedSelf–Management,RelationshipSkills,and PA engagement duringPE, inand outsideof school, and total dailyPAamong these school–aged students. Supported by: This study was funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.