Aerobics enhances cardiovascular fitness and agility in preschoolers. The effect of a physical activity intervention package on the self-esteem of pre-adolescent and adolescent females. Children with asthma and physical exercise: effects of an exercise programme. Physical and psychological effects of aerobic exercise in delinquent adolescent males. Physical and psychological effects of aerobic exercise in boys with learning disabilities. A controlled trial of health promotion programs in 11-year-olds using physical activity "enrichment" for higher risk children. Effects of exercise program on physical fitness, depression, and self-efficacy of low-income elderly women in South Korea. The effects of aerobic training on children's creativity, self-perception, and aerobic power. Improving physical fitness and emotional well-being in adolescents of low socioeconomic status in Chile: results of a school-based controlled trial. Effects of a physical exercise rehabilitation group program on anxiety, depression, body image, and health-related quality of life among breast cancer patients. Effects of selected physical activities on health-related fitness and psychological well-being.
Investigated effects of aerobic exercise on a sample of 24 preschoolers. Thirty minutes of aerobic exercises were provided daily for a period of 8 weeks for a group of 12 children while the remaining 12 children engaged in freeplay on the school playground. The children were given pretests and posttests on the following measures: a submaximal exercise test on a pediatric bicycle (baseline and three workloads), an agility test, a health knowledge test, a self-esteem scale, and an observational measure of their gross-motor activity. Despite comparability on pretests, significant group X repeated measures effects suggested that the aerobic exercise group showed decreases in heart rate at all three workloads as well as increases in agility and self-esteem following the exercise program. These findings suggest that cardiovascular fitness, agility, and self-esteem can be facilitated in preschoolers by an aerobic exercise program. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a physical activity intervention package on the self-esteem of pre-adolescent and adolescent females. The package involved three components: physical activity, education and self-report. Subjects (N = 181) were pre-, early-, and middle-adolescent girls ranging in age from 9 to 16 who were enrolled in an independent school. An experimental pre-test/post-test design which involved two independent variables (intervention package and age group), each with three levels, was used. Self-esteem was measured with the Self Description Questionnaire I and II (Marsh, 1988). Results indicated that low self-esteem individuals benefitted from the intervention. However, statistically significant results were limited to the younger age group. To evaluate the effects of a physical exercise programme for children with asthma on an outpatient basis.
                Intervention study: a randomized pretest-post-test control group design.
                Forty-seven children with clinically diagnosed asthma participated in the intervention study, including 34 boys and 13 girls, from 8 to 13 years of age (mean age 10.6).
                The physical exercise programme consisted of regular group exercises and home exercises for a period of three months. It was based on a theoretical model describing the relationships between physical competence (condition), perceived physical competence, self-esteem and coping behaviour.
                Maximum incremental exercise test, endurance test, the Self-Perception Profile for Children (CBSK), the Asthma Coping Test (ACBT), lung function and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.
                The results showed significant effects of the intervention programme on physical condition. There was a significant improvement of 15 W on the maximal workload (Wmax) (p < 0.001), of 7% on VO2max (oxygen uptake) (p = 0.002) and a significant decrease on heart rate submaximal of 6% (p = 0.001). There was also a significant improvement of 50% in running time measured with the endurance test (p = 0.021). Furthermore, a significant effect of the intervention was seen on coping with asthma (p = 0.003).
                It was concluded that participation in the physical exercise programme not only enhanced physical fitness, but also improved coping behaviour with asthma. Aerobic exercise has been associated with improved psychological status and physical fitness in adults, but its effects in adolescents have been less clear. This study evaluated the effects of aerobic exercise on the self-concept, depression level, and physical fitness of juvenile delinquents. Ninety-eight incarcerated youths who volunteered to participate were assigned in a blind fashion to one of two exercise programs lasting three months. Sixty-nine completed all phases of the study and are the subjects of this report. One exercise program (32 subjects) emphasized aerobic exercise; the other (37 subjects), limited exertion. Before and after participating, each subject underwent measurement of self-concept, mood, and physical fitness. While the aerobic and comparison groups were initially similar, the data demonstrated an association between participation in the aerobic exercise program and improved self-concept, mood, and fitness. Improvement in psychological variables was not dependent on improved physical fitness and was not related to preintervention measures. Aerobic exercise has been associated with improvements in psychological status and physical fitness in adults, but its effects on children are less clear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an aerobic exercise program on the self-concept, academic achievement, motor proficiency, and cardiovascular fitness of boys with learning disabilities. Fifty-four boys were randomly assigned to one of two exercise programs lasting 20 weeks. One program emphasized aerobic exercise and the other consisted of similar but less vigorous activities. The self-concept, academic achievement, motor proficiency, and physical fitness of each subject was assessed before and after the exercise programs. The results from group comparisons demonstrated an association between the aerobic exercise program and improvement of self-concept and physical fitness. No effect on academic achievement or motor proficiency could be attributed to the aerobic exercise program. To evaluate the short and long term benefits of a school and home based physical activity "enrichment" program for children at higher risk of cardiovascular disease as identified by cluster analysis.
                During two 10-week school terms, 800 11-year-olds took part in a randomized controlled trial with the standard physical activity and nutrition program in six schools, the standard program in a further seven schools but with the addition of physical activity enrichment for higher risk children in those schools, and no program in five control schools. Cluster analysis identifying the 29% or so highest risk children used systolic blood pressure, percent body fat, physical fitness, and blood cholesterol.
                Fitness improved significantly in program schools, particularly with enrichment in higher risk boys. Substantial improvements persisted 6 months later in girls from program schools. At "Enrichment" schools, cholesterol showed significant benefits in higher risk girls and, 6 months later, in both boys and higher risk girls. Sodium intake and, in girls, subscapular skinfolds were lower in "Enrichment" schools when the program ended, but not 6 months later.
                Two-semester health programs with physical activity enrichment for higher risk children can produce benefits sustained for at least 6 months. Improvements extend to lower risk children exposed indirectly to the enrichment. Attenuation of effects on diet and body composition in the longer-term suggest the need for on-going programs. This study aimed to examine the effects of exercise programs on physical fitness, depression, and self-efficacy in low-income elderly women (age > or = 75).
                A pretest-posttest experimental research design with a control group was used. The sample consisted of 26 women in the exercise group and 22 women in the wait-list control group in Seoul, Korea.
                The measures of physical fitness included body mass index, cardiopulmonary endurance (blood pressure and heart rate), muscle strength (hand grip strength), flexibility (degree of bending of the upper body), and balance (duration of time for which the subject could stand on one foot). Depression and self-efficacy were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale and a modified form of Lee's scale, respectively. All measures were obtained twice: at baseline and at the completion of the exercise program.
                The exercise program consisted of 4 weeks of education along with 8 weeks of physical exercise.
                After the intervention, significant improvements were found in depression, self-efficacy, and all measures of physical fitness, except heart rate and flexibility, in the experimental group.
                The exercise program may be recommended as a method to maintain and promote the health of low-income elderly women. The article examines whether participation in an aerobic exercise program (AE), as compared with a traditional physical education class (PE), significantly increased children's perceived athletic competence, physical appearance, social acceptance, behavioral conduct, and global self-worth; increased their figural creativity; and improved aerobic power as measured by an 800-meter run around a track. Further research on the effects of different types of AE is discussed, as well as the need for aerobic conditioning in the elementary school. Regular physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality, and mortality due to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Among adolescents, physical activity is associated with benefits in the prevention and control of emotional distress, and improvement of self-esteem. Countries in transitional epidemiological scenarios, such as Chile, need to develop effective strategies to improve physical activity as a way to face the epidemic of chronic diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a school-based physical activity program on physical fitness and mental health status of adolescents living in a low socioeconomic status area in Santiago, Chile. A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the effects of the program over one academic year. The study included 198 students aged 15 years old. Two ninth grade classes were randomly selected as the intervention group, with two classes of the same grade as controls. A social planning approach was used to develop the intervention. The program was designed and implemented based on student preferences, teachers' expertise and local resources. Changes in physiological and mental health status were assessed. After the intervention, maximum oxygen capacity achieved a significant increase of 8.5% in the intervention versus 1.8% in the control group (p < 0.0001). Speed and jump performance scores improved significantly more in the intervention versus the control group (p > 0.01). Anxiety score decreased 13.7% in the intervention group versus 2.8% in the control group (p < 0.01), and self-esteem score increased 2.3% in the intervention group and decreased 0.1% in the control group after the end of the program (p < 0.0001). No significant change was observed in the depressive score. Student participation and compliance with the program was > 80%. To conclude, a school-based program to improve physical activity in adolescents of low socioeconomic status, obtained a high level of participation and achieved significant benefits in terms of physical fitness and mental health status. Since physical exercise programs have the potential to help cancer patients regain physical fitness and may exert a range of positive consequences for recovery and psychological well-being, the impact of a physical exercise program was investigated in this prospective study.
                Women with primary nonmetastatic breast cancer after a minimum 4-week period post chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy completion were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups: intervention group (IG) (n = 30) and waiting group (WG) (n = 28). The 10-week twice weekly exercise group program consisted of gymnastics, movement games, relaxation, walking, and jogging. Anxiety, depression, body image, and quality of life were measured using standardized questionnaires. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)max/kg) was assessed as a measure of physical fitness.
                Patients in the IG improved significantly over time with regard to anxiety (p = 0.03, d = 0.45), depression (p = 0.05, d = 0.43), individual body image (p = 0.006, d = 0.44), and VO(2)max/kg (p < 0.001, d = 0.50), whereas no improvements were observed in the WG. However, this randomized controlled trial failed to demonstrate significant intervention effects in quality of life and social body image.
                This prospective study provided evidence for the effectiveness of a 10-week physical exercise intervention to significantly improve psychosocial wellbeing, individual body image, and physical fitness.
                Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel. To determine the effects of participation in selected physical activities on scores of self-concept, body-cathexis and four items of health-related fitness, 88 women in university physical education service classes participated 3 hr. per week for 8 wk. in one of five activities (aerobic dance, jogging for fitness, swimming for fitness, life saving, and weight training). A total of 108 subjects participated in the study, with 20 students in health science classes serving as the controls. Few differences were noted between the activity groups and the controls on the posttest with pretest scores controlled. Specifically, joggers and aerobic dancers performed significantly more situps than did the controls, and joggers, aerobic dancers, weight trainers, and those in the lifesaving group displayed significantly greater flexibility on the sit and reach test than did the controls, on the posttest. None of the activity groups differed from the controls regarding self-esteem, body cathexis, body fat, or the step test scores at posttest.
The results indicate that exercise has positive short-term effects on self-esteem in children and young people. Since there are no known negative effects of exercise and many positive effects on physical health, exercise may be an important measure in improving children's self-esteem. These conclusions are based on several small low-quality trials.