Physical fitness levels and trends of kindergarteners in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic
Background/objectives: The study aimed to examine the physical fitness and activity levels of kindergarteners in Hong Kong during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: A total of 2052 kindergarteners (48% girls; 32.9% Grade 1, 34% Grade 2, and 33.1% Grade 3) were recruited from July 2020 t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1728869X24000194 |
| _version_ | 1797248384951648256 |
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| author | Ming Yu Claudia Wong Kai-ling Ou Wing Sum Wong Sze Sze Hon Pak Kwong Chung |
| author_facet | Ming Yu Claudia Wong Kai-ling Ou Wing Sum Wong Sze Sze Hon Pak Kwong Chung |
| author_sort | Ming Yu Claudia Wong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/objectives: The study aimed to examine the physical fitness and activity levels of kindergarteners in Hong Kong during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: A total of 2052 kindergarteners (48% girls; 32.9% Grade 1, 34% Grade 2, and 33.1% Grade 3) were recruited from July 2020 to November 2021. Participants completed the physical fitness tests, including body composition, flexibility, lower-limb muscle strength, upper-limb muscle strength, lower-limb muscle endurance, and agility. Children's physical activity and overall well-being were examined using parental proxy reports. Parents also reported their physical activity and parental support to children's physical activity engagement, as well as their perception of children's kindergarten physical activity environment. Fitness differences by age and gender were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and ANCOVA measuring effect size with partial eta-squared. Additionally, correlations assessed the relationship between children's fitness and parents' proxy reports. Results: The results of the physical fitness tests were higher than those in previous studies conducted by the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong in 2015–2018. Gender-based differences were observed in most tests for children aged 4 years and older, with boys showing higher scores in the standing long jump, shot put, and balance tests, while girls had higher scores in the sit-and-reach test. Parents' proxy questionnaire answers indicated that children's continuous jump test performances were significantly related to their frequency of physical activity per week (r = 0.19, p < 0.001), and that children's health was significantly and positively correlated with their fitness level (r = 0.179, p < 0.009). Inadequate school physical activity was associated with poor upper-limb strength (r = 0.078, p < 0.005). Moreover, a high level of parental support for their children's participation in physical activity was correlated with a high level of parental participation in vigorous-intensity physical activities (r = 0.167, p < 0.005). Conclusion: The physical fitness of children in Hong Kong was less affected by the epidemic. Parents' healthy behaviors and support were related to children's participation in PA. Efforts to improve children's physical fitness and motor development should include parent education and physical activity involvement. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:13:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd0115f450b44bb998ee60b54cffc170 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1728-869X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:13:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd0115f450b44bb998ee60b54cffc1702024-03-23T06:23:31ZengElsevierJournal of Exercise Science & Fitness1728-869X2024-07-01223202207Physical fitness levels and trends of kindergarteners in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemicMing Yu Claudia Wong0Kai-ling Ou1Wing Sum Wong2Sze Sze Hon3Pak Kwong Chung4The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, ChinaHong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Corresponding author.The Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, ChinaHong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, ChinaHong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, ChinaBackground/objectives: The study aimed to examine the physical fitness and activity levels of kindergarteners in Hong Kong during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: A total of 2052 kindergarteners (48% girls; 32.9% Grade 1, 34% Grade 2, and 33.1% Grade 3) were recruited from July 2020 to November 2021. Participants completed the physical fitness tests, including body composition, flexibility, lower-limb muscle strength, upper-limb muscle strength, lower-limb muscle endurance, and agility. Children's physical activity and overall well-being were examined using parental proxy reports. Parents also reported their physical activity and parental support to children's physical activity engagement, as well as their perception of children's kindergarten physical activity environment. Fitness differences by age and gender were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and ANCOVA measuring effect size with partial eta-squared. Additionally, correlations assessed the relationship between children's fitness and parents' proxy reports. Results: The results of the physical fitness tests were higher than those in previous studies conducted by the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong in 2015–2018. Gender-based differences were observed in most tests for children aged 4 years and older, with boys showing higher scores in the standing long jump, shot put, and balance tests, while girls had higher scores in the sit-and-reach test. Parents' proxy questionnaire answers indicated that children's continuous jump test performances were significantly related to their frequency of physical activity per week (r = 0.19, p < 0.001), and that children's health was significantly and positively correlated with their fitness level (r = 0.179, p < 0.009). Inadequate school physical activity was associated with poor upper-limb strength (r = 0.078, p < 0.005). Moreover, a high level of parental support for their children's participation in physical activity was correlated with a high level of parental participation in vigorous-intensity physical activities (r = 0.167, p < 0.005). Conclusion: The physical fitness of children in Hong Kong was less affected by the epidemic. Parents' healthy behaviors and support were related to children's participation in PA. Efforts to improve children's physical fitness and motor development should include parent education and physical activity involvement.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1728869X24000194Motor developmentBehaviorChildrenFamily support |
| spellingShingle | Ming Yu Claudia Wong Kai-ling Ou Wing Sum Wong Sze Sze Hon Pak Kwong Chung Physical fitness levels and trends of kindergarteners in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness Motor development Behavior Children Family support |
| title | Physical fitness levels and trends of kindergarteners in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Physical fitness levels and trends of kindergarteners in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Physical fitness levels and trends of kindergarteners in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical fitness levels and trends of kindergarteners in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Physical fitness levels and trends of kindergarteners in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | physical fitness levels and trends of kindergarteners in hong kong during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Motor development Behavior Children Family support |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1728869X24000194 |
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