Description
Introduction. Children are one of the populations most affected by the containment measures adopted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, given the lack of interaction with peers, absence of recognition of emotions and self-esteem, etc. The Colombian Institute of Neurosciences reports that 88% of children have been affected by mental health issues as a result of the pandemic. Physical activity has emerged as a fundamental strategy for physical and mental well-being and is considered a protective factor in children and adolescents, as it is associated with self-esteem, life satisfaction, and resilience, among other factors.Objective. To determine the relationship between active play as a form of physical activity and anxiety symptoms in school-aged children post-pandemic. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 74 children (54.5% girls) aged 9.4 ± 0.86 years, belonging to three educational institutions in Bogotá. Active play was assessed using the CMAFYCS questionnaire and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the BAI-Y. Based on the normality of the data, linear correlations and a polynomial regression model were performed using the R Studio program. A statistical significance of p<0.05 was determined.
Results. An inverse correlation was found between active play outside the home during the week (r=-0.30, p=0.01) and at the weekend (r=-0.31, p=0.007) and the presence of anxiety symptoms. The fourth-degree polynomial model was determined with weekend play, explaining about 11% of the observed variability in anxiety symptoms (R2=0.106, p=0.019).
Conclusion. Active play is associated with lower anxiety symptoms in schoolchildren in the post-pandemic period.
| Period | Nov 22 2023 → Nov 24 2023 |
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| Held at | Instituto Nacional de Salud, Colombia |