A STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AEROBIC EXERCISE ON SELF ESTEEM AND LEVEL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN OF SELECTED SCHOOLS AT HUBBALLI, KARNATAKA.

Abstract

Background of the study: Exercise is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle that has been scientifically demonstrated to be beneficial. The link between physical activity and mental health also has been widely accepted. Aerobic exercise is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with a goal of improving all elements of fitness. This exercise has the potential manage the fitness as well as self-esteem among school going children which is most important factor of the present era. Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess self esteem and level of physical activity among school children in experimental group and control group, to evaluate the effectiveness of Aerobic exercise on self esteem & level of physical activity among school children in experimental group, to find out correlation between self esteem and level of physical activity among school children in experimental group and control group and to find out an association between pretest scores of self esteem and level of physical activity among school children in experimental group and control group with their selected socio-demographical variables. Methodology: An evaluative approach was used to conduct study with True experimental: Pre-test post-test control group design. The study was conducted among 60 school children (30 children in experimental group & 30 children in control group) of selected schools of Hubballi, Karnataka. Samples were selected using Probability; simple random sampling technique. Data was collected by modified Rosenberg self-esteem scale to assess self-esteem and physical activity questionnaire for children (PAQ-C) to assess the level of physical activity. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The study results revealed that, in pre-test among experimental group, 25(41.6%) children were with low self-esteem, 35(58.3%) of the children were with moderate self-esteem and no one were with high self-esteem, whereas in control group 30(50%) children were with low self-esteem, 30(50%) of the children were with moderate self-esteem and no one were with high self-esteem. Regarding to the level of physical activity in pre-test, among experimental group 28(46.6%) were with low physical activity, 32(53.3%) were with moderate physical activity and no one were with high physical activity, whereas in control group, 29(48.3%) were with low physical activity, 31(51.6%) were with moderate physical activity and no one were with high physical activity. After administration of Aerobic exercise in post-test, among experimental group, 48(80%) were with high self-esteem, 12(20%) were with moderate self-esteem and no one was with low self-esteem, among control group, 31(51.66%) were with moderate self-esteem, 29(48.33%) were with low self-esteem and no one was with high self-esteem. Whereas about level of physical activity in post-test, among experimental group, 50(83.33%) were with high physical activity, 10(16.66%) were with moderate physical activity and no one was with low physical activity, among control group, 29(48.3%) were with low physical activity, 31(51.6%) were with moderate physical activity and no one were with high physical activity. There was positive correlation between self-esteem & level of physical activity scores among experimental group & control group. With regards to the statistical association between pre-test self-esteem & level of physical activity scores of experimental & control group, there was no association between the self-esteem & level of physical activity scores with their selected socio-demographic variables. Conclusion: The study concluded that Aerobic exercise is effective in improving the self-esteem & level of physical activity.