The Effect of Creative Gymnastics Intervention on Physical Activity Self-Efficacy in Primary School Students

One of the main factors that affects participation in physical activities is self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to examine if a creative gymnastics intervention could affect physical activity self-efficacy in children. One hundred and twelve (55 boys and 57 girls) 4th grade students participated. Fourteen lessons of creative gymnastics were taught to experimental group (50 students). The control group (62 students) had free movement activity. Self-efficacy for physical activity was measured using the Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Scale (PASES). The results showed that there was significant interaction between program type and time. There was a substantial main effect for time and for the type of intervention. The Bonferroni correction showed that there was an effect only on the group of creative gymnastics over time; in the control group there was no effect over time. The findings of this study indicate that an intervention that focuses on creative gymnastics could enhance physical activity self-efficacy in children.