EFFECTS OF RECREATION PROGRAM FOR HEALTH-RELATED PHYSICAL FITNESS AMONG UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) compare the effects of a recreational program on the health-related physical fitness of upper elementary school students before and after participation within the experimental group and 2) compare the effects of the recreational program on health-related physical fitness between the experimental and control groups before and after participation. The population consisted of upper elementary school students from Tessaban 3 (Wat Tha Maprang) School in the 2023 academic year, covering three classrooms. The sample was divided into an experimental group (n = 36) and a control group  (n = 36), with students assigned through stratified random sampling based on their initial health-related physical fitness test results. The stratification was categorized into three levels: good, moderate, and low. The research instruments included 1) a recreational program designed to enhance the health-related physical fitness of upper elementary school students, developed by the researchers, and 2) a standardized physical fitness test for assessing health-related physical fitness. Data were analyzed using the t-test. The findings revealed that 1) within the experimental group, significant improvements were observed in flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, and muscular strength after participating in the program, with statistical significance at the 0.05 level; and 2) when comparing the experimental and control groups, the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in body composition, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, and muscular strength, also at the 0.05 level.