Purpose The purpose of this study is to measure the daily physical activity of male and female middle school students according to the period (VD: vaction day, SNPE: school day no PE, SPE: school day with PE) by using 3-axis accelerometer, and to compare the characteristics of adolescent physical activity according to gender and period. Methods The subjects were 130 middle school students (68 male, 62 female students). Data collection was performed using a 3-axis accelerometer(GT3X model, ActiGraph). Collected data were converted into time by intensity and rate using physical activity analysis program (Actilife v6.11.9) and analyzed by statistical program (SPSS 25.0). One-way ANOVA and independent sample t-test were used for statistical analysis. Tukey's HSD was used as a post analysis. The statistical significance level was .05. Results As a result, during each periods(VD, SNPE, and SPE), except for MVPA(moderate to vigorous physical activity) time on SPE, sedentary and MVPA time were significantly higher in female students, and low intensity and total physical activity time were significantly higher in male students. For male students, total physical activity time was higher in the order of SPE, SNPE, and VD, and for female students, physical activity time during the semester(SNPE and SPE) was significantly higher than VD. For male students, MVPA time was significantly high in order of SPE, SNPE, and VD, and for female students, it was high in order of SPE, SNPE, and VD but only significant difference occurred between SPE and VD. For both male and female students, sedentary time was high in the order of VD, SNPE, and SPE, but the sedentary time during vacation was significantly higher than during the semester. Conclusions When summarizing the results, first, it was confirmed that school and physical education classes as a physical activity space play a significant role in physical activity, especially MVPA, of male and female middle school students, second, the physical activity effect of physical education class was found to be more effective in male students. Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to conduct studies on various grades and to explore various factors affecting physical activity in a complex way.
Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the alienation and the overcoming process of the physical activity participation of people with Adventitious Visual Impairment(AVI) Methods 21 Adults with AVI were recruited and one on one semi-structured interview was conducted. Ground theory was used to analyze the data. Member check, peer debriefing was conducted to enhance the trustworthiness of this study. Results As a result, a total of 203 concepts were derived. This consisted of 21 subcategories and the common themes of the subcategories were categorized into nine categories. Specific results are as follows. First, the physical activity of people with AVI was directly affected by the sports facilities, physical activity programs, and professional instructor. This causal condition resulted in the loss of leisure experience in the context of the busy daily life and the depressed psychological state. Second, due to the perceived need of health care and the positive involvement of others, people with AVI came to expect the effect of exercise. Third, people with AVI participated in physical activity again as a tool to achieve the purpose of health improvement. This type of physical activity has a limitation that it can not guarantee the continuity of physical activity due to the limitation that it does not contain autonomy and interest of people with AVI. Conclusions Based on these results, the following suggestions were made. First, it is necessary to improve the environment for ensuring participation in physical activity of people with AVI. Moreover education and promotion of the effects and values of the exercise should be carried out for people with AVI and their guardians. Second, it is necessary to diversify physical activity types and reconstruct existing exercise programs.
The frailty, characterized by reduced physiological function is closely related to a fall, disability, institutionalization, hospitalization, and mortality in the elderly. A reduced physical fitness is a major phenotype of the frailty. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among pre-frailty, physical activity (PA) and functional fitness in the community dwelling elderly women. The study participants were elderly women (n=338, 70.6±4.2years) aged over 65 who took part in the Korean Healthy Fitness Criteria study for the National Fitness Award Project in 2015. The pre-frailty was defined using the Cardiovascular Health Study frailty criteria. PA was assessed using the International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ). The participants were classified as regular PA participants if they meet the World Health Organization (WHO) PA recommendation for the elderly. Functional fitness was assessed using the composite of the National Fitness Award fitness testing for the elderly. Quality of life was evaluated using EuroQoL visual analogue scale and WHO quality of life assessment. As the results, the pre-frail elderly women were significantly older and obese (body mass index, percent body fat, waist circumference) than the healthy elderly. The pre-frail elderly presented significant decreases in walking, moderate intensity, and total PA compared to the healthy elderly even after adjusted for age and percent body fat. However, no significant difference was found in vigorous-intensity activity between the pre-frail and healthy elderly. Also, the pre-frail elderly women showed the decrease in functional fitness and quality of life compared to the healthy elderly. Regular PA was associated with high levels of muscular endurance and coordination in healthy and pre-frail elderly. In pre-frail elderly, high levels of cardiorespiratory endurance was associated with PA. In conclusion, regular PA is inversely associated with fitness decline in healthy and pre-frail community-dwelling elderly women. Regular PA might attenuate fitness decline in pre-frail elderly women.
This article analyzes and compares the methodologies used in physical activity participation surveys from England, Australia, and South Korea. Specifically, it examines the “2021–22 Active Lives Adult Survey” from England, the “2021–22 AusPlay (15+)” from Australia, and the “2022 National Sports Participation Survey” from South Korea, highlighting both similarities and differences in their approaches. The analysis led to two key insights. First, there is a need to expand the scope of respondents in South Korea’s National Sports Participation Survey. Currently, the survey targets only 0.02% of the population aged ≥10 years, whereas the surveys in England and Australia gather data from a wider age range and more diverse regions. Therefore, South Korea should adopt online, postal, and mobile survey methods to widen the respondent pool and enhance the representativeness and reliability of the data collected. Second, South Korea needs to update its physical activity participation standards. The current benchmarks fall below international recommendations. Establishing new criteria that specify activity duration, intensity, and type is essential for effectively improving public health policies. The results of this study emphasize the importance of accurately assessing and enhancing physical activity participation in South Korea. These findings are expected to contribute to the development of effective sports policy standards in line with the World Health Organization’s global action plan.
PURPOSE This study aimed to analyze factors associated with physical activity (PA) in older adults based on social ecological theory. METHODS Secondary analysis was conducted using raw data from the 2021 Community Health Survey. after excluding 129 non-responses in the PA domain, a total of 74,363 individuals were included in the final analysis. A total of eight factors, including personal (level of depression, history of falls), relational (relationships with neighbors, living alone), community (satisfaction with the local community system, safety), and environmental factors (living environment, natural environment), were selected in accordance with the key points of social ecological theory. To analyze social ecological factors related to the PA of older adults, we conducted a decision tree analysis using Chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID). RESULTS The average PA level among older adults was approximately 136 minutes, but the mode and median were both 0 minutes. A total of 20.2% of older adults met the physical activity recommendations, while 79.8% did not. According to the first split of the decision tree, living alone was the most relevant factor associated with the PA of older adults, followed by depression and falls. Older adults living alone, with a depression score of 10 or higher, and who had experienced a fall within the past year, were least likely to meet the PA recommendations. CONCLUSIONS This study urgently suggests that PA programs should target older adults living alone, experiencing depression, and falls.
PURPOSE This study analyzed research on physical activities for elementary school students 1st and 2nd-graders to explore teachers’ perceptions and instructional practices in physical activity classes. METHODS Twelve studies published in academic journals conducted between 2000 to 2022 were selected for analysis. RESULTS The research articles were categorized into three domains: perception of physical activity in lower grades, operational features, and factors influencing practices from a didactic perspective. Challenges identified include dilemmas between curriculum documents and actual practice, a lack of practical teaching expertise, and a teaching culture discouraging physical activity in lower grades. Operational patterns were restructured into “avoidance-style classes,” “ad-hoc classes,” “textbook-dependent classes,” and “textbook-reorganization classes.” Factors influencing physical education for early elementary students included “teacher support factors,” “environmental factors,” and “administrative factors.” CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, this study advocates for policies that systematically improve perception, administration, and support classes for activating physical activities in lower elementary school students. The findings suggest the need for strategies such as adapting integrated curricula, creating training programs and educational materials, ongoing professional development activities for teachers, and specific research focused on physical activities for lower grade elementary students.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to analyze the level and characteristics of physical activity (sedentary, light, and MVPA) of high school students according to physical education (PE) class (DWPE: days with PE class, DNPE: days with no PE class) and sex. METHODS Data were collected on 147 students (65 male and 82 female) from four high schools in Seoul city, and physical activity was measured using a three-dimensional accelerometer. The collected physical activity data were input into SPSS 25.0, and the descriptive analysis and two-way ANOVA according to PE class and sex were performed. RESULTS The descriptive statistical analysis showed that 31% (40.7% male and 23.4% female) of participants met the recommended physical activity durations (MVPA of 60 min/day). In the two-way ANOVA, sedentary activity, light activity, and MVPA showed statistically significant main and interaction effects according to PE class and sex. According to the results of the interaction effect analysis, the gap in physical activity between DWPE and DNPE was large in male students. For male students, light activity and MVPA significantly increased on the day of the PE class, and sedentary activity significantly decreased. However, for female students, DWPE and DNPE did not differ significantly in all levels of physical activity. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the level of physical activity of Korean high school students was relatively low, and the effect of daily-life physical activity in the PE class was limited to male students. Accordingly, an alternative should be introduced to increase the physical activity of female high-school students through PE classes.
PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on elite youth athletes by investigating their activities and eating habits before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS This study included 917 elite adult athletes from 19 sports and were grouped into 6. The questionnaire included items regarding demographics, physical activity, sleep, and eating habits before and after COVID-19. A total of 44 questions requiring subjective short answers were included. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. RESULTS After COVID-19, vigorous and moderate activity decreased across all sports; however, light activity increased in almost sports. Time spent sitting increased across all sports. The difference in the number of meals consumed varied among sports, and the number of competitions decreased in all sports. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be finished but has not ended yet. Athletes must determine the best way to maintain their physical, physiological, and psychological states close to their original abilities. Determining this will provide the greatest impact on the return of athletes after COVID-19; this study will be helpful.
Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the physical activity promotion plans for female student by revising and supplementing the SPARK program which is actively applied as a P.E physical activity improvement program recently. Methods To achieve this, this study followed the custom of action research and apprehended problem in female students' physical activity in SPARK soccer program(first action and examination), problem solving plan(replanning), execution and evaluation of replanned SPARK soccer program (second action and evaluation). The collection and analysis of data was conducted by sequential explanation strategy. Specifically, the study utilized 3 dimensional accelerometer to measure the physical activity in P.E class, and collected data which could apprehend the experience of students by utilizing qualitative study tools(observation, class note, interview). To analyze the collected data, the study utilized mixed-methods study analysis method developed by Greene(2007). Results The study results are as follows. As for the result of first action(October~November 2014), SPARK program increases the entire physical activity in P.E class, but the female students' activity was relatively lower than male students'. The reasons for lower physical activity of female students' were unmotivated class, burdensome class, alienated class. These were specified into teaching strategy to replan and execute the second action (May~June 2015). Compared to first action, the second action showed positive physical activity, and the MVPA of female students' showed statistical difference (<.01). As for the result of qualitative analysis, the positive grounds of second action are 1) motivative resource like "necessity", 2)hard but meaningful learning activity, and 3)kind P.E teacher. Conclusions In conclusion, the implementation of a soccer class with a modified supplement to the SPARK program can enhance physical activity of female middle school students.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore environmental constraints that hindered the physical activity of female students in daily life, and then to provide alternatives to improve the problems based on the social ecological model. Methods Research participants were twelve female students to be selected in two schools(Norang, Parang middle school), the process of data collection(orientation, photovoice implementation, focus group interview) and analysis(choosing a photo, contextualizing, subjecting) were conducted according to the Photo-voice. Results The constraints of physical activity in daily life were categorized on ‘playground as like a desert’(leisure domain), ‘space of recess and in-active play’(family domain), ‘transportation replaced by mom and dad car’(transportation domain), ‘space of the only exercise as well as reproduction of gender discrimination’(school domain). Conclusions The environmental constraints were analyzed as academic, physical, daily living, socio-cultural environment. Lastly, alternatives for promoting physical activity of female student were proposed in the level of organization, community, public policy based on the social ecological model.
