An investigation into the use of exercise as a medium for mental health promotion among institutionalised children

Abstract

This study was contextualised within the community psychological model of mental
health promotion and Erick Erikson's (1950) psychosocial theory with mental health
promotion being conceptualised as a positive component of mental health and
exercise conceptualised as a subset of physical activities aimed at improving health
and well being. The research investigated the use of exercise as a medium for mental
health promotion among institutionalised children. The participants of this study
comprised children institutionalised in children's homes in the Richards Bay and
Empangeni area. In an experimental and control group design, an exercise
intervention was implemented and psychological assessment techniques used to
measure the mental health outcomes. Analyses of variance with repeated measures
were run to investigate differences between the experimental and control groups on
the dependent variables. Significant differences were found for improvement in
caretakers' ratings of paediatric symptoms. Although not statistically significant
other trends were in the expected direction of improvements in participants'
perceptions of personal feelings and physical self and caretakers' ratings of
children's depression. Qualitative focus group data supported and amplified these
findings.

Keywords: Mental health promotion; Children's homes; Exercise.

South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol. 29 (2) 2007: pp. 1-10