英文摘要 |
Introduction: Research has shown that children may not be engaging in sufficient physical activity (PA) for health benefits, and this is of concern as PA habits that develop in childhood may persist into adult life. PA is associated with not only chronic diseases prevention, but also cognitive function and self-worth. Few research studies have investigated how PA interventions can affect the cognitive functioning and physical self-perception of high school female students. Methods: One hundred 10th–12th grade female students leading a sedentary lifestyle volunteered to participate in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to either an after-school aerobic dance intervention (experimental group; n = 50) or a control group (n = 50). The experimental group received an aerobic dance intervention 3 days a week over a period of 12 weeks. The control group did not receive the intervention. Participants engaged in aerobic exercise sessions of moderate to vigorous intensity, and their individual heart rates were monitored during each session. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and the Physical Self-Perception Profile were administered before and after the intervention in a pretest-posttest control group design. Primary data analysis was conducted using a mixed two-way analysis of variance. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. Results: The analysis results revealed that the aerobic dance intervention group exhibited a higher total correct performance and a greater conceptual level response than the control group after the intervention. Furthermore, the exercise group exhibited improved body attractiveness, physical condition, and physical self-worth after the aerobic dance intervention compared with the control group. Conclusion: The results suggested that regular participation of aerobic dance exercise can affect certain underlying processes that support psychological health and may be necessary for effective cognitive function and physical self-perception throughout the lifespan of an individual. |