The Impact of Physical Education on Enhancing the Mental Health of Students at SDN 3 Tungkal Ilir Banyuasin

Muhamad Basrudin

Authors

Muhamad Basrudin Pascasarjana, Universitas PGRI Palembang, Indonesia Author

Keywords:

Mental Health, Physical Activity, primary education, social-emotional development.

Abstract

This study seeks to examine the impact of Physical Education, Sports, and Health (PJOK) on enhancing students' mental health in SDN 3 Tungkal Ilir, Banyuasin Regency. The employed research methodology is mixed-methods, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Quantitative data were collected by a questionnaire assessing the frequency of physical activity, mood, anxiety levels, and self-confidence among students in grades IV–VI (N = 130). Qualitative data was acquired through comprehensive interviews with 15 students and 2 PJOK instructors, in addition to classroom observations. Quantitative data analysis use descriptive statistics and linear regression, whereas qualitative data is examined thematically. The findings indicated that increased frequency of PJOK activity correlated favorably with enhanced mood (r = 0.62, p < 0.01) and confidence (r = 0.58, p < 0.01), while exhibiting a negative correlation with anxiety levels (r = -0.55, p < 0.01). The incorporation of social-emotional elements in PJOK, bolstered by teacher support and sufficient resources, improves students' mental health, but time constraints, inadequate facilities, and limited teacher training present obstacles. A systematic and organized PJOK program incorporating these components can significantly enhance the mental well-being of primary pupils, affecting curriculum design, educator training, and facility availability.

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