Effect of Extra-curricular Sports Activities After School on Primary School Children's Academic Performance

Sun Yat-sen University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Extra-curricular Sports

Treatments: Behavioral: Extra-curricular sports

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04587765

SYSU-OPH-008

Details and patient eligibility

About

The process of urbanization and the rapid development of information technology have greatly reduced the space and time available for children's outdoor activities. In this study, we expect to study the effects of the addition of physical education classes after school on the academic performance, mental health, physical fitness, and myopia among primary school children.

Full description

Urbanization has led to a shrinking of the space suitable for residential activities and a dramatic change in the behavioural patterns, which is particularly evident in children. The spread and development of information technology has reduced children's time for physical activity. Previous studies have found that physical activity is essential for the growth and development of adolescents, preventing and reducing obesity, slowing the development of myopia, and is closely linked to mental health. However, parents in China are concerned that increased outdoor activity will reduce the amount of time spent studying and affect academic performance. Currently, there is a lack of strong evidence on the impact of physical activity on academic performance. In this study, we propose to provide after-school physical education classes for students in primary schools in a rapidly urbanizing area, and assess the effects of the intervention on children's academic performance, physical fitness, myopia, and mental health to provide evidence for the development of educational programs and arrangements for after-school activities.

Enrollment: 2,032 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 7 to 11 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Pupils in the third and fourth grades of primary schools in Yudu County;
2. Voluntary participation in this study with consent and informed consent signed by guardians.

Exclusion criteria

• Exclusion criteria for school

  1. Lack of a third or fourth grade;
  2. Average class size less than 30 students;
  3. No conditions for two classes to play sports at the same time.

• Exclusion criteria for students 4. Two or more days Monday to Friday not available to participate in studies under the project programme; 5. Unsuitability for health or physical reasons to participate in sports activities; 6. Refusal to sign informed consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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2,032 participants in 2 patient groups

Extra sports group

Experimental group

Description:

The group follows the schedule of school teaching programme. Extra-curricular sports classes will be organized and provided in this group of schools in the afternoon after school until 6 p.m. (Monday to Friday).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Extra-curricular sports

Conventional group

No Intervention group

Description:

The group follows the schedule of school teaching programme. Students arrange their own after-school time after school.