Physical Activity's Impact on Children's Wellbeing

Wellbeing is all about feeling healthy and happy. It's not just one thing; it's a mix of good feelings in the mind, like happiness and life satisfaction, and also how we feel physically and in our surroundings. In the UK, there’s been a big focus on how school-aged kids, especially those from 7 to 11 years old, can have their wellbeing influenced. We know that moments in early life, like childhood and teenage years, are super important for shaping how kids feel about themselves and their lives.

During the pandemic, when schools shut down, kids had less chance to play and be active. This made us realize just how vital play and physical activity are for young people's wellbeing and mental health. So, if we can figure out how being active affects how kids feel overall, we can better design policies and practices that give them more opportunities to move, play, and learn.

#What is Physical Literacy?

Physical literacy, or PL for short, is like a special set of skills that helps kids take part in sports and play. It includes having the motivation, Confidence, physical ability, and understanding of why being active is great for them. Kids who feel good about these skills are more likely to stay active throughout their lives, which is great for their wellbeing.

Schools play a big role in the wellbeing and mental health of children. In Wales, a new curriculum was rolled out in 2022. This new plan focuses on broader learning areas instead of just sticking to the usual subjects. Schools can connect health and wellbeing with other learning areas, which is awesome for addressing concerns about kids’ involvement in physical activity.

However, there's been some troubling news. A lot of schools aren't hitting the recommended 120 minutes of physical education (PE) a week, and outdoor play is going down. If kids aren’t getting enough chances to be active during the school day, that could hurt their wellbeing, learning, and overall success in school.

#Our Study

With the link between physical activity and wellbeing being so well-known, we wanted to know just how much self-reported physical activity affects wellbeing and mental health in kids aged 7 to 11. We think that things like getting to school actively, riding bikes, feeling safe, and having a good grip on physical literacy will significantly affect overall wellbeing.

We looked at data from a big project called HAPPEN-Wales, a study started by Swansea University. It focuses on understanding the physical and mental health of kids in primary schools across Wales.

#Materials and Methods

HAPPEN-Wales began in 2014, using feedback from school leaders to better address health and wellbeing in schools. They created a survey, which kids from ages 7 to 11 can fill out. This survey asks kids about how active they are, what they eat, their mental health, and their overall happiness.

Parents were informed about the survey so that they could choose to opt their kids out if they wanted. Over the years, more than 600 schools have been part of this study, capturing information from a representative number of children across Wales.

This survey has helped gather data from a ton of kids-over 40,000! This allows us to have a pretty good glimpse of how children’s health and wellbeing looks across the country.

#Ethics Statement

We got the green light from Swansea University’s Ethics Board to conduct this study. Parents and kids gave their consent before taking part, and we made sure to keep everything anonymous.

#Data Collection

We gathered data from September 2017 to June 2023, covering a significant period to get an accurate picture. We measured children’s wellbeing using a tool that asks them to rate their happiness in various life aspects, like friends, family, school, health, and life overall. A similar method was used to measure their mental health through a questionnaire that highlights emotional and behavioral difficulties.

We also asked about physical activity and how active kids felt they were, their ability to ride a bike, swim, and even how safe they felt in their neighborhoods. The kids reported their physical literacy through a few questions about their motivation and confidence in being active.

Once we cleaned and prepared the data, we used some statistical methods to figure out how physical activity relates to wellbeing and mental health.

#Key Findings

A total of 16,731 kids took part, with roughly equal numbers of boys and girls. The survey showed that many children felt they had good overall wellbeing, but there were some important factors affecting how they felt.

#Factors Influencing Wellbeing

The analysis revealed several key players in boosting wellbeing among kids:

• Less Sedentary Time: Kids who were more active and less glued to screens tended to report higher wellbeing.
• Confidence: Feeling confident in their physical abilities contributed positively to their happiness.
• Safety: Kids who felt safe in their communities had better wellbeing.
• Autonomy: The freedom to make their own choices about activities was essential for feeling good.
• Competence: Feeling capable and skilled in physical activities also played a significant role.

Interestingly, factors like gender and deprivation did not play a major role in predicting overall wellbeing, which was a surprise. The intrinsic feelings about being active seemed far more important than simply logging hours of physical activity.

#Mental Health Insights

When we looked at mental health, we found that higher levels of sedentary behavior were linked to poorer emotional wellbeing. This means that kids who were less active were more likely to experience emotional difficulties. Similarly, feeling unsafe, lacking confidence, and low feelings of competence were all predictors of poorer mental health.

For behavioral difficulties, kids who reported more time spent not being active showed higher rates of problems. Interestingly, boys tended to report more behavioral challenges than girls, which highlights differing experiences.

#The Decision Tree Analysis

To visualize the most important factors for overall wellbeing, we used a decision tree analysis. This showed that competence was the number one predictor of wellbeing. Following that were feelings of autonomy and participation in physical activities. It also revealed that low emotional wellbeing negatively impacted overall happiness, especially for those who didn’t feel competent or autonomous.

#Recommendations for Schools

Our study highlights that improving opportunities for physical activity alone isn't enough. Schools and communities should consider boosting children's confidence, competence, and feelings of autonomy related to being active. Here are some recommendations:

1. Involve Kids in Designing Activities: Get input from students, teachers, and other community members to create relevant activities that truly resonate with kids. This gives them a sense of control and choice.

2. Offer Diverse Physical Activities: Schools should provide a mix of structured lessons, free playtime, and after-school clubs so that kids can find what they enjoy.

3. Enhance Community Safety: Work with local leaders to address concerns that make kids feel unsafe, like crime and traffic issues, which can dampen their spirit.

4. Build Confidence: Encourage kids to feel good about their abilities and successes. Even small wins can lead to greater confidence and willingness to participate.

5. Promote Play: Recognize that unstructured play helps children develop significant skills. Prioritize opportunities for kids to freely explore and engage in physical activities.

#Conclusion

Overall, our study shines a light on the crucial link between physical activity and the wellbeing of school-aged children. The findings emphasize that it's not just about getting kids to run laps or swim a certain distance but focusing on building their confidence and sense of competence. Creating the right conditions for kids to feel safe, autonomous, and capable can lead to happier, healthier children.

As we know, happy kids make for a happy society! So, let’s keep encouraging our little ones to play, be active, and enjoy their time, and we might just see a world where children thrive in both wellbeing and mental health.