Physical Education Research Articles

The Effectiveness of a Psychological Counseling Program on Developing Future Optimism among Students of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Zakho University

The Effectiveness of a Psychological Counseling Program on Developing Future Optimism among Students of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Zakho University

Exploring the effects of a 12-Week functional training program on fundamental motor skills for primary school children aged 6–7

BackgroundFundamental motor skills (FMS) are the foundation of children’s movement. Professional guidance and customised training methods are essential to effectively acquiring and mastering fundamental motor skills. Recently, functional training has gained widespread popularity and is associated with numerous benefits. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of functional training on fundamental motor skills in children aged 6–7. MethodsThis study was conducted at a primary school. One hundred children were randomly selected from 382 who met the criteria and allocated to a functional training or regular physical education group, with 25 boys and 25 girls in each group. The research program lasted 12 weeks, with two weekly sessions, each lasting 40 min. The assessment of fundamental motor skills utilises the Test of Gross Motor Development and Pediatric Balance Scale. The pre-test and post-test data were analysed using generalised estimating equations. ResultsThe data analysis showed statistically significant differences between and within groups. There was a significant interaction effect of time and group on the gross motor quotient (x2 = 51.603, p = 0.001), locomotor subtest standard scores (x2 = 22.259, p = 0.001), object control subtest standard scores (x2 = 29.283, p = 0.001), and PBS balance scores (x2 = 24.881, p = 0.001). Furthermore, the main effect of time was significant for the four variables. However, the main effects of the group varied. Significant effects of the group were observed for the gross motor quotient (x2 = 8.662, p = 0.003) and object control subtest standard scores (x2 = 7.471, p = 0.006), but not for locomotor subtest standard scores (x2 = 2.558, p = 0.110) or PBS balance scores (x2 = 1.188, p = 0.276). Discussion and ConclusionsFunctional training can positively impact the development of fundamental motor skills in children aged 6–7, demonstrating greater effectiveness than regular physical education courses. These findings provide evidence that incorporating functional training into early childhood physical education can be an effective intervention for enhancing the development of fundamental motor skills.

Comparing two online learning activities addressing interprofessional approach on health science students’ attitudes towards teamwork

BackgroundPhysical distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic led to the transition from in-person to online learning for many health sciences educators. This study was conducted to compare the effects of two online learning activities addressing interprofessional teamwork on health science students’ attitudes towards teamwork. MethodsThis study was designed as a randomized quasi-experimental study. The nursing (n = 30), physiotherapy and rehabilitation (n = 30), and nutrition-dietetics (n = 30) students were assigned to either online standardized patient simulation (n = 45) or online case analysis (n = 45) groups. Students’ attitudes towards interprofessional teamwork were collected pre- and post-test evaluation using the TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire (T-TAQ). ResultsNo significant differences were found between T-TAQ mean scores prior the intervention (p > .05). However, following the intervention, whilst the T-TAQ mean scores were not found to be statistically significant between the two groups (p > .05), the students’ pretest and posttest T-TAQ mean scores did show a statistically significant difference (p < .05). ConclusionWe found online learning activities to be a successful alternative to physical interprofesional education activities and a worthwhile opportunity to develop health science students to interprofesional teamwork.

Diagnosis of Oil-Drilling Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Interturn Short Circuit Under Physical Fault Model Training Sample

Diagnosis of Oil-Drilling Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Interturn Short Circuit Under Physical Fault Model Training Sample

Design and construction of a scale for future anxiety among final-year students at the Faculty of Physical Education , Minia University

Design and construction of a scale for future anxiety among final-year students at the Faculty of Physical Education , Minia University

Bullying and its relationship to social skills among students of the Faculty of Physical Education, Minia University

Bullying and its relationship to social skills among students of the Faculty of Physical Education, Minia University

Meaningful physical education: Towards an embodied pedagogy

International research on students’ meaningful experiences in physical education (PE) has led to the proposal of the Meaningful PE approach, aiming to guide pedagogical principles to support students’ meaningful experiences in PE. The approach currently includes democratic and reflective pedagogical principles. With this paper, we aim to contribute to the Meaningful PE approach by emphasizing the need to address a third pedagogical principle that attends to pre-reflective bodily dimensions of students’ meaningful experiences in PE. The democratic and reflective pedagogical principles are based on a reflective interpretation of the significance an experience holds. While this approach is highly valuable, the retrospective nature of these principles may unintentionally overlook significant pre-reflective bodily dimensions of experience. Drawing on a phenomenological concept of embodiment, we use key structures of our pre-reflective bodily engagement with the world to analyse features that young people describe as significantly contributing to their meaningful experiences in PE and youth sport: social interaction, challenge, motor competence, fun, and personally relevant learning. Our analysis reveals that pre-reflective bodily meaningful experiences emerge as something in-between the subject and the world. These experiences can be affected by others in body-to-body encounters and contain a dimension of negativity related to the pre-reflective, relational, and active–passive structure of our lived experience. Based on our analysis, we propose that teaching to support meaningful experiences in PE must address the dialectical interplay between reflective and pre-reflective dimensions. Therefore, we advocate for adding an embodied pedagogical principle to the Meaningful PE approach alongside the reflective and democratic principles.

Lessons learned teaching social and emotional learning in physical education teacher education: a self-study

ABSTRACT Background Social and emotional learning (SEL) has emerged as a political and educational priority worldwide. Numerous academic and non-academic benefits of effective (well-designed and well-implemented) SEL programmes within educational contexts exist. Not surprisingly, SEL has been acknowledged as one of the most prioritised educational agendas to support students’ holistic growth and success across different subjects in schools, health and physical education is no exception. Yet, while SEL continues to progress as a global education priority, there is limited literature on SEL in physical education, and even less which seeks to explore teaching SEL in a physical education teacher education (PETE) programme. Purpose Framed by Loughran’s conceptualisation of developing a pedagogy of teacher education, this study explored lessons learned from one teacher educator’s first experience teaching SEL in a health and physical education teacher education programme. Method A self-study of teacher education practices methodology supported one teacher educator to interrogate their experience, decisions, identity, and practices teaching SEL in a PETE programme. Data includes written reflections (n = 10 pages, single-spaced), transcribed critical friend discussions (n = 112 pages single-spaced), and teaching artefacts. Data analysis involved a collaborative reflexive thematic analysis approach to facilitate the inductive identification of themes and patterns. Findings Results are grouped into three categories: lessons learned about my practice as a teacher educator, lessons learned about my pre-service teachers, and lessons learned about teacher education. The three lessons include: (1) the importance of SEL being taught not caught, (2) students lack content knowledge, and (3) once is not enough. Results confirm teaching SEL requires a programmatic approach. Each lesson represents an ongoing process of making sense of self in practice. Conclusions The results of this research provide pedagogical considerations about teacher education programmes and those who teach in them. Teaching about teaching is a complex process. Teaching about teaching SEL may be an even more complex process as teacher educators rarely have developed these competencies themselves.

Advancing healthcare through mobile collaboration: a survey of intelligent nursing robots research

Mobile collaborative intelligent nursing robots have gained significant attention in the healthcare sector as an innovative solution to address the challenges posed by the increasing aging population and limited medical resources. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the research advancements in this field, covering hospital care, home older adults care, and rehabilitation assistance. In hospital settings, these robots assist healthcare professionals in tasks such as patient monitoring, medication management, and bedside care. For home older adults care, they enhance the older adults sense of security and quality of life by offering daily life support and monitoring. In rehabilitation, these robots provide services such as physical rehabilitation training and social interaction to facilitate patient recovery. However, the development of intelligent nursing robots faces challenges in technology, ethics, law, and user acceptance. Future efforts should focus on improving robots’ perceptual and cognitive abilities, enhancing human-robot interaction, and conducting extensive clinical experiments for broader applications.

‘We keep focusing on being excellent’: impact of secondary organizational socialization on late-career faculty members’ delivery of PETE

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of secondary organizational socialization on six late-career faculty members’ (FMs) delivery of physical education teacher education (PETE). Our specific research questions were: (a) What forms of PETE did late-career FMs deliver? and (b) What factors reinforced or impeded late-career FMs’ delivery of PETE? We collected data through three qualitative techniques (i.e. formal interviews, documents, and a written description of FMs’ ideal PETE program). Data were reduced to themes by employing analytic induction and constant comparison. Findings revealed that FMs delivered three distinct forms of PETE that were combinations of the behavioristic, traditional/craft, personalistic, and critical-inquiry orientations to teacher education. While their university cultures were largely positive, the conditions in which FMs worked were mainly unfavorable and impeded their delivery of PETE. To counter this situation, FMs employed a number of tactics in an attempt to strategically redefine their workplaces for the better. These findings may be a catalyst for change in terms of inspiring other FMs to fight back when they face adverse conditions and to reflect on the forms of PETE they deliver. The findings may also serve to make administrators aware of the difficulties sport pedagogy FMs face in general.

Determining the Reliability of Software Electronic Engineering Tools in the Control of Vestibular Disorders in Inclusive Physical Education of Students

Background. Due to the increase in the proportion of mine-blast injuries sustained during the Russian-Ukrainian war, the number of students in higher education institutions after blast TBI has risen. Objectives. The study aimed to determine the reliability of the tool for test control of gait parameters, created based on software electronic engineering for students after blast TBI in inclusive physical education. Materials and methods. The theoretical stage of the research was realized by analyzing the literature on the studied problem, evaluating and synthesizing information from scientific sources. For the empirical part of the experiment, the Dynamic Gait Index test was used to assess gait parameters, dynamic balance, and fall risk. The test results were processed using the methods of statistical mathematical analysis. The experiment involved 30 students (men) after sustaining an explosive traumatic brain injury. Results. The study presents the developed tool for testing gait parameters using the Dynamic Gait Index, which is based on the integration of various types of software electronic engineering services. The development uses motion, speed, pressure, and touch sensors. The information about the test exercise, recorded by the sensors, is sequentially transmitted by wireless communication means to the controller (Arduino Leonardo based on the ATmega32u4 microcontroller platform) and then to a PC, where the results are displayed on the monitor in digital and graphical form. The development uses a neural network and the Microsoft OneDrive cloud service to process information, which provides processing and storage of large amounts of test control data. The results of the empirical establishment of the Dynamic Gait Index quality measure, the characteristics of reliability and validity that were recorded by the teacher, are significantly inferior in numerical values to the correlation coefficient obtained by the results of the Dynamic Gait Index when the outcomes were recorded using the developed tool. Conclusions. The introduction of modern software engineering services into inclusive physical education of students represents a significant step forward in implementing an impartial control mechanisms for restoring damaged gait and balance functions, which have been recognized as a leading factor in disability caused by blast TBI, and contributes to ensuring the effectiveness of this process.

Physical education teaching: A biomechanical perspective of physical education educators and coaches

This study investigated the integration of biomechanical principles into physical education teaching practices. We use a combination of surveys, classroom observations, focus groups, pre-assessments and post-assessments, as well as force analysis in order to look at the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of physical education educators and coaches. Our findings are that theoretically, there is a substantial chasm between knowledge and application in a physical education environment. Most teachers recognized the importance of biomechanics but frequently did not have adequate preparation and resources to make it part of their teaching curricula. From the findings of our study, we conclude that teacher preparation programs and professional development programs need biomechanic education in totality. Eliminating these gaps will significantly enhance the quality of physical education instruction and outcomes for all students. Our study empirically suggests that biomechanical interventions are indeed a practical improvement for students, as they actually make the students’ movements mechanically better, reduce the likelihood of injury, and give them even more motivation.

The Relationship Between Physical Literacy, Strategies and Approaches in Physical Education

Physical literacy is an idea or concept that has relatively recently developed in the international world, including Indonesia, when compared to other literacy concepts. This new knowledge has an important role when we carry out our teaching duties as physical education, sports and health teachers at school. Schools, through extracurricular physical education, sports and health activities, curricular projects to strengthen the profile of Pancasila students, as well as extracurricular sports activities have an important role in promoting physical literacy. This role should make schools a forum for creating learning that is appropriate to the level of development and characteristics of students. The aim of this research is to determine the relationship between physical literacy and strategies and approaches in physical education. This research uses a literature review method, namely by reviewing the results of previous research based on theories that can be accounted for to produce new, more up-to-date theories. Based on the cause and effect interpretation of 10 articles related to physical literacy with approaches to physical education, a very firm conclusion was drawn from this research, namely that physical literacy carried out in physical education increases physical fitness, potential and academic achievement.

A bibliometric analysis of mental health among high school students

BackgroundIn recent years, with the increase in academic pressure and changes in social environment, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been a significant impact on the mental health of high school students. This trend, which is concerning, requires a systematic bibliometric analysis to develop effective preventive and remedial measures.ObjectiveThis study aims to identify and analysis the research hotspots, frontiers and emerging trends in the field of high school students’ mental health over the past two decades using CiteSpace software. These findings provide important insights that can shape future research agendas and guide targeted interventions to improve the mental health outcomes of this vulnerable group.MethodsThis study utilized the Web of Science Core Collection database as its data source to retrieve literature pertaining to high school students’ mental health from January 1, 2004, to January 1, 2023. The initial search yielded 1,764 relevant documents. After manually screening to exclude duplicates, conference proceedings, announcements, and irrelevant documents, a total of 1,748 relevant documents were retained. The research employed the CiteSpace 6.2.R4 tool to evaluate various bibliometric indicators of the included literature, including statistics on institutional and author publication volumes, as well as co-citation analysis.ResultsA total of 1,748 English-language documents were retrieved, showing an upward trend in publications on high school students’ mental health from 2004 to 2024. The research hotspots primarily focus on COVID-19 pandemic, depression, bullying, substance abuse, sexual behavior, Physical Education and their relationships with the mental health of high school students. Future research trends may focus on studies investigating the relationships between the use of electronic cigarettes, sleep disorders, internet addiction, and the mental health of high school students.ConclusionIn addition to the six major research hotspots of COVID-19 pandemic, Depression and stress, Suicidal ideation, Bullying, Sexual behavior and Physical education. Researches should pay more attention to the use of electronic cigarettes, sleep disorders, and Internet addiction among high school students.

Effects of a 12-Week Physical Activity Intervention on Psychological Symptoms in Adolescents

Participation in regular physical activity (PA) is associated with numerous health benefits, including improvement in adolescents’ mental health. The current study aimed to assess the effects of a 12-week physical activity intervention on psychological symptoms of adolescents. The sample of this controlled randomized study was composed by 150 adolescents aged 12 to 15 years old. PA intervention is an adaptation of the ActTeens Program, which includes structured PA sessions delivered during Physical Education classes. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to measure psychological symptoms. To analyze the effects of the intervention on psychological symptoms, generalized estimating equations (GEEs) models were constructed. After 12 weeks, there were no significant intervention effects for emotional problems (mean difference: −0.14; 95% IC: −1.1–0.82), conduct problems (mean difference: 0.14; 95% IC: −0.6–0.8), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (mean difference: −0.66; 95% IC: −1.4–0.1), peer problems (mean difference: 0.2; 95% IC: −0.6–1.0), prosocial behavior (mean difference: 0.00; 95% IC: −0.8; 0.8) and overall mental health score (mean difference: 0.15; 95% IC: −2.0; 2.3). No improvement in psychological symptoms was observed after 12 weeks of PA intervention. Future studies should explore how PA in different dimensions and contexts may impact positively on adolescents’ mental health.

ОРГАНІЗАЦІЯ ОСВІТНЬОЇ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ФОРМУВАННЯ У ПІДЛІТКІВ ПОЗИТИВНОЇ МОТИВАЦІЇ ДО ЗАНЯТЬ ФІЗИЧНОЮ КУЛЬТУРОЮ

The article is devoted to the problem of organization educational technology for the formation of positive motivation for physical education among adolescents. The socio-economic changes taking place in our country and abroad put forward new requirements for educational theory and practice in the field of preparing the younger generation for life and work in the context of European integration partnerships. The problem of forming motivations for learning, including physical education, is becoming particularly relevant today. The special principles of the projective development of educational technology for the formation of positive motivation in adolescents for systematic physical education are defined and characterized An innovative educational technology for the formation of positive motivation in teenagers for systematic physical education. Along with the issues of forming teenagers’ motivation to study, it is also necessary to resolve the issue of forming the need for independent and systematic physical education based on the creation of ideas about a healthy lifestyle.

ОСВІТА ТРЕНЕРІВ З ВИДУ СПОРТУ В УКРАЇНІ: ПРОБЛЕМИ ВДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ

Compliance with the modern demands of the sports industry is a key factor in shaping the training of highly qualified specialists in the field of physical education and sports. Objective. To identify the main directions for improving the professional training of coaches and physical education specialists in light of the current developments in the field. Methods. The study followed an analytical approach, which determined the use of theoretical methods in pedagogical research. The following methods were applied: the bibliographic method for analyzing data from scientific and methodological literature on the research problem; the pedagogical modeling method to address issues related to the training of specialists in physical education and sports; and the forecasting method to propose solutions to the challenges in training future sports coaches. Results. The analysis revealed that current coach training programs need updates to their theoretical component as well as a stronger focus on practical-oriented learning. To achieve this, the introduction of innovative teaching methods is recommended, considering the interests and needs of all participants in the training process. In particular, attention should be paid to increasing employer engagement by more closely integrating the practical components of education, taking into account the specific demands of working in sports organizations. Significant attention should be given to motivating students by introducing modern technologies and encouraging practical activities. Moreover, a key issue remains the lack of interdisciplinarity in coach training, which affects their ability to adapt to the rapid changes in the sports industry. Integrating a competency-based approach may help develop more flexible and professionally oriented curricula. Conclusions. In the context of educational process modernization, it is necessary to integrate a competency-based approach and implement innovative teaching methods in the training of future coaches. Enhancing coach preparation requires adapting educational programs to current demands, involving employers in the training process, and promoting innovative and practice-oriented learning methods. This will improve the quality of specialist training and ensure their competitiveness in the labor market.

An Advanced Apriori Algorithm Technology to Enhance Sports Data Mining

This paper explores the optimization of association rule mining in the context of physical education (PE) data, focusing on modifying the Apriori algorithm to enhance its efficiency and accuracy. Recognizing the unique characteristics of PE data—such as the consistent length and limited scope of physical test metrics—the study proposes a novel approach that combines transaction compression with hash technology to refine the Apriori algorithm. This enhanced algorithm aims to analyze the correlations between physical fitness indicators effectively and quickly to identify key factors influencing student performance. Experimental results demonstrate that the improved model significantly increases operational efficiency while maintaining high mining accuracy. Additionally, the research addresses the integration of ecological education within PE, emphasizing the dynamic balance concept of “balance-unbalance-adaptation-balance” in optimizing the educational ecosystem. The findings are helpful for providing practical tools for educators to advance this field.

Diabetes Eye Disease Sufferers and Non-Sufferers Are Differentiated by Sleep Hours, Physical Activity, Diet, and Demographic Variables: A CRT Analysis

Introduction: Diabetic eye disease is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. This complication has some direct impact on an individual’s well-being and health. Some lifestyle habits have been associated with the incidence of these co-morbidities. Objective: To classify the diabetic population into sufferers or non-sufferers of diabetes eye disease according to lifestyle and demographic variables, and to identify which of these variables are significant for this classification. Methods: The present cross-sectional study based on the NHANES 2011–2020 used the Classification and Regression Tree (CRT) analysis for classifying the diabetic population into sufferers and non-sufferers of diabetes eye disease. The odds ratio (OR) and relative risks (RR) of suffering this diabetes complication of the subgroups formed by the model were studied. The final sample formed 2657 individuals (1537 males and 1120 females). Results: A 79.4% accuracy was found for the CRT model. The independent variables of sleep hours (100.0%), physical activity (PA) group (92.8%), gender (76.2%), age (46.4%), education level (38.4%), sedentary time (38.1%), and diet (10.0%) were found to be significant for the classification of cases. The variable high alcohol consumption was not found significant. The analysis of the OR and RR of the subgroups formed by the model evidenced greater odds of suffering diabetes eye disease for diabetes sufferers from the inactive and walk/bicycle PA group compared to those from the Low, Moderate, and High PA groups (OR: 1.48 and RR: 1.36), for males compared to females (OR: 1.77 and RR: 1.61), for those sleeping less than 6 h or more than 9 compared to those who sleep between 6 and 8 h (OR: 1.61 and RR: 1.43), and for diabetes sufferers aged over 62 compared to younger ones (OR: 1.53 and RR: 1.40). Conclusions: sleep hours, PA group, gender, age, education level, sedentary time, and diet are significant variables for classifying the diabetic population into sufferers and non-sufferers of diabetes eye disease. Additionally, being in the inactive or walk/bicycle PA group, being a male, sleeping less than 6 or more than 9 h, and being aged over 62 were identified as risk factors for suffering this diabetes complication.

Evaluation Model of Physical Education Teaching Effect Based on Embedded Neural Network

In response to the uniqueness of sports learning evaluation, we innovatively chose neural networks as the modeling basis and constructed a sports teaching effectiveness evaluation model based on embedded neural networks. This model achieves intelligent and automated evaluation of physical education teaching through the flexible processing capability of an efficient learning ability logic system embedded with neural networks. Specifically, embedded neural networks can deeply mine complex data during the teaching process. The embedded neural network effectively solves the uncertainty in the evaluation process and significantly improves the accuracy and adaptability of the evaluation system. In the process of model construction, we pay special attention to the adaptive processing capability of data. By introducing an adaptive neural system, the model can dynamically adjust parameters to better adapt to different teaching scenarios and individual differences among students, ensuring the objectivity and impartiality of evaluation results. This adaptability not only enhances the flexibility of the evaluation system, but also provides solid support for its application in practical teaching.