Abstract
Many health promotion programs have been implemented to prevent obesity and mental health problems among school-aged children. However, only a few programs included both physical and psychological measures to assess the effects of the program. The present study was designed to test the effects of a 6-week health promotion program on physical and mental health among school-aged children using physiological and psychological measures. A total of 74 elementary school students (4th and 5th grade) recruited from urban (n = 51) and rural areas (n = 23) participated in the study. We used the Korean version of the Kovacs’ Children’s Depression Inventory and the Conners-Wells’ Adolescent Self-Report Scale-Short Form (CASS-S) to measure levels of depression and hyperactivity, respectively. To assess children’s physical health, we measured body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and heart rate variability. In addition, children’s health-related behaviors (e.g., eating and exercise habits) were assessed using the health promotion behavior scale. A total of 63 students (13 in the experimental and 50 in the control group) who completed both physiological and psychological measures were included in the final analysis. Compared to children in the control group, children in the experimental group showed a significant decrease in their level of hyperactivity (t = -2.01, p = 0.049) and increase in heart rate variability (t = -2.35, p = 0.022). No significant group differences were noted for depression, BMI, body fat percentage, and health promotion behaviors between the two groups. Findings of this study provided preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of a 6-week school-based health promotion program for improving emotional health among school-aged children living in a rural area. Future studies testing the effects of health promotion programs with longer sessions and programs focusing on social-emotional skill development are needed.
Highlights
In Korea, the physical and mental health of elementary students is of concern
To address the gaps in current knowledge, this study aimed to examine the effect of a school-based health promotion program on both physical and mental health among late school-aged children
We provided information about various health topics and motivated participants to engage in health promotion activities and self-monitoring
Summary
In Korea, the physical and mental health of elementary students is of concern. Physical activity and fitness have decreased and the mean height and weight for children and adolescents have increased over the past 10 years [2]. Based on a recent report on the mental health of Korean children and adolescents, 20 percent had suicidal ideation and 3 percent had attempted suicide during the past year, and one third of middle and high school students had experienced depressed mood [3]. The prevalence rate of ADHD symptoms among 4th - 6th grade elementary students was reported to be up to 22.3% [4], and the high level of bullying and violence among elementary school students warned of the risk for mental health problems [5] [6]. The development of school-based health promotion programs and related policies is needed
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