Date of Award
Summer 6-3-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Kinesiology (PhD)
Department
Kinesiology
Abstract
Mental health disorders represent a massive global health burden, with close to one billion people currently affected. Access to treatment and medical care remains low, especially among children. Increased physical activity (PA) is a widely recognized and accessible method for improving mental health, with substantial evidence supporting its benefits. Physical education (PE) is a structured, school-based environment that promotes PA and increased movement, but research examining its impact on mood is limited. This study examined mood changes in middle school students following PE participation in two game-based activities: handball (team sports) and badminton (partner games). A quasi-experimental design was used with pre- and post-tests of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) to measure students' mood changes. Gender, enjoyment, and exertion were included as key research variables. Results showed that physical education participation significantly increased positive affect among study participants, with no significant changes in negative affect. Activity type did not have a significant effect, and gender was only associated with mood change on one study day. Enjoyment predicted positive affect change in two of the four days, whereas exertion did not influence mood changes. This study supports the role of physical education in improving children’s emotional well-being in an accessible and convenient way during school.