The Role of After-school Exercise Services in Promoting Myopia and Physical and Mental Health in Children

A Cohort Study of After-school Exercise Services in Promoting Myopia and Physical and Mental Health in Children

This project is a prospective cohort study to evaluate the impact of after-school extended physical education services on the visual health, physical health indicators, and mental health of children and adolescents participating in these services over a one-year period. The study collected data on the participation rate, duration, activity content, and organisational form of the after-school extended hours service through a questionnaire; the demographic characteristics, sleeping habits, and dietary habits of the participants through a self-administered questionnaire on the multidisease behaviour of children and adolescents; the intensity of the activities of the students who participated in the after-school extended hours service was investigated through an accelerometer and a physical activity questionnaire; and data on students' visual acuity, body mass index, and mental health status were collected through a medical check-up. Students' visual acuity data, body mass index, maximum oxygen uptake, and other indicators of physical health and mental health were collected through physical examination, and data on changes in one year were collected through half-yearly/follow-up visits to establish a cohort to evaluate the effects of after-school extended hours services on students' myopia rates, physical health and mental health levels by different types, intensity and duration of exercise.

Students in grades 1-6 of several primary schools were selected as the study subjects. According to the baseline survey, the study subjects were divided into after-school extended physical education service group and non-after-school extended physical education service group, and their behavioural habits as well as the contents of the after-school extended physical education service, visual acuity, BMI, cardiorespiratory fitness, spinal curvature abnormality, and mental health were investigated by means of questionnaires and other tools, so as to analyse the relationship between after-school extended physical education service and the physical and mental health of the students.

Inclusion Criteria:

• ① Those who voluntarily participate in the after-school extended hours service;

  • Those who voluntarily participate in this study and sign the informed consent; ③ Basic reading, writing and comprehension skills to understand the questionnaire and be able to answer it;

Exclusion Criteria:

• ① Unfit to participate in sports activities for health or physical reasons; ② Suffering from glaucoma, glaucoma and other diseases.

  • Those who suffer from glaucoma, strabismus, refractive error and other eye diseases that affect vision;