EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING, STRESS LEVELS AND SELF-ESTEEM OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
This study explored how physical activity levels affect the psychological well-being, stress, and self-esteem of primary school children in Enugu State. A quantitative ex post facto research design was utilized. The sample included 120 children who were randomly and purposefully chosen from primary schools in the study area. The Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) was employed to evaluate psychological well-being, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) assessed stress levels, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale measured self-esteem. Data analysis included descriptive statistics to summarize the characteristics of the participants, while an independent sample t-test was used to identify differences between children with low and high physical activity levels in terms of psychological well-being, stress, and self-esteem. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) at a significance level of 0.05. The findings indicated significant advantages of physical activity, revealing that children who participated in higher levels of physical activity exhibited better psychological well-being, lower stress levels, and higher self-esteem compared to their less active counterparts. Based on these findings, it was suggested that school health programs and educational stakeholders in Enugu State should enhance efforts to encourage physical activity among children through organized play, recreational programmes, and awareness initiatives. Furthermore, teachers and school health officers ought to integrate engaging physical activities into the daily routine to improve children's emotional resilience, alleviate stress, and elevate self-esteem.
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