BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity (PA) and the development of relational empathy skills in children, taking into account weight status. METHODS: Parents/guardians of primary school children were involved in filling out a questionnaire: the Empathy Questionnaire (EmQue-I13) and children were asked to complete the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) to investigate the self-reported PA levels. The weight status was assessed using a self-reported Body Mass Index (BMI). RESULTS: Three hundred seventy parents or guardians of students who attended primary school (8.53±1.61 yrs) were recruited. The total score was 2.41±0.89 for PAQ-C and 41.17±6.32 for EmQue-I13. The three domains of EmQue-I13 were: contagion (8.16±2.67), attention to others’ feelings (19.40±2.99) and prosocial actions (13.62±3.01). Linear regression models showed that a higher PAQ-C score was positively associated with empathy-related total score P<0.000. Weight status, age and gender were not associated with EmQue-I13. CONCLUSIONS: Our results underline the positive association between physical activity and the development of relational empathic skills.
A cross-sectional analysis between physical activity levels, weight status and empathy-related behaviors in a sample of Tuscany primary school children / Alice MASINI, Chiara ROSSI, Laura DALLOLIO, Gabriele MASCHERINI. - In: THE JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. - ISSN 1827-1928. - ELETTRONICO. - 64:(2024), pp. 8.835-8.840. [10.23736/S0022-4707.24.15915-4]
A cross-sectional analysis between physical activity levels, weight status and empathy-related behaviors in a sample of Tuscany primary school children
Gabriele MASCHERINI
2024
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity (PA) and the development of relational empathy skills in children, taking into account weight status. METHODS: Parents/guardians of primary school children were involved in filling out a questionnaire: the Empathy Questionnaire (EmQue-I13) and children were asked to complete the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) to investigate the self-reported PA levels. The weight status was assessed using a self-reported Body Mass Index (BMI). RESULTS: Three hundred seventy parents or guardians of students who attended primary school (8.53±1.61 yrs) were recruited. The total score was 2.41±0.89 for PAQ-C and 41.17±6.32 for EmQue-I13. The three domains of EmQue-I13 were: contagion (8.16±2.67), attention to others’ feelings (19.40±2.99) and prosocial actions (13.62±3.01). Linear regression models showed that a higher PAQ-C score was positively associated with empathy-related total score P<0.000. Weight status, age and gender were not associated with EmQue-I13. CONCLUSIONS: Our results underline the positive association between physical activity and the development of relational empathic skills.I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.