Improving stress coping and problem-solving skills of children in disaster-prone area through cooperative physical education and sports lesson

Abstract

The present study examined the effect of cooperative games in physical education (PE) and sports classes on the stress coping and problem-solving skills, and the relationship between these skills. The fifteen elementary schools in the volcano disaster area were assigned to the intervention and two control groups. The intervention group received PE and sports lessons with cooperative games while the control groups completed PE and sports lessons consistent with each school’s existing curriculum over 28 weeks. The stress coping and problem-solving skills scales, previously developed for use with students, was implemented before and after the program. Two- and one-way analysis of variance and paired sample t-tests were used to compare the three groups, and a Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between skills at pre- and post-test. The analysis showed a significant increase in stress coping and problem-solving skills in the intervention group over two control groups and a high positive relationship between these skills was in the post-test of the intervention group. T he PE and sports lessons with cooperative games could effectively promote both students’ stress coping and problem-solving skills.