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Changes in Physical Fitness among Elementary and Middle School Students in Korea before and after COVID-19

Author

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  • Eui-Jae Lee

    (Department of Physical Education, Graduate School of Education, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Korea
    The first two authors (Eui-Jae Lee and Dong-il Seo) contributed equally to this work.)

  • Dong-il Seo

    (Department of Health and Exercise Science, Dongguk University, Gyeongju-si 38066, Korea
    The first two authors (Eui-Jae Lee and Dong-il Seo) contributed equally to this work.)

  • Seung-Man Lee

    (Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
    The corresponding two authors (Seung-Man Lee and Jong-Hyuck Kim) contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jong-Hyuck Kim

    (Department of Medical Beauty Care, Jungwon University, Goesan-gun 28024, Korea
    The corresponding two authors (Seung-Man Lee and Jong-Hyuck Kim) contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze changes in health-related physical fitness among Korean elementary and middle school students before (2019) and after (2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection was completed by requesting the physical activity promotion system (PAPS) data from elementary and middle school students. This information is obtained annually by the Goyang Office of Education in Gyeonggi-do, Korea. The collected data were measured in 2019 and 2021. Data were collected from 17,000 children in the fifth and sixth grades of elementary school and about 24,000 boys and girls in the first, second, and third grades of middle school. Chi-square analyses were used to examine data from each school’s health-related physical fitness examinations. Our results indicated that physical fitness levels were significantly lower in 2021 than in 2019 across the following six areas: cardiorespiratory endurance, power, muscular strength, flexibility, obesity, and overall health-related physical fitness ( p < 0.05). In addition, the ratio of students with excellent physical fitness (PAPS Grades 1 and 2) significantly decreased from 2019 to 2021, while the ratio of students with poor physical fitness (PAPS Grades 3, 4, and 5) increased ( p < 0.05). In addition, there were some differences according to grade and gender. Discussions regarding the impact of decreases in physical activity on physical fitness, interpretations of physical fitness in the context of a pandemic, and practical measures that can be implemented to improve health and fitness among children and adolescents in such situations remain essential.

Suggested Citation

  • Eui-Jae Lee & Dong-il Seo & Seung-Man Lee & Jong-Hyuck Kim, 2022. "Changes in Physical Fitness among Elementary and Middle School Students in Korea before and after COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11712-:d:917130
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    References listed on IDEAS

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