Move4Future: implementation and effects of a pilot physical exercise programme for children and youth at risk from multi problem families

• Autor(a) principal: Mercê, Cristiana
• Data de Publicação: 2025
• Outros Autores: Simões, Vera, Ramos, Liliana, Silva, Miguel, Brígida, Nancy, Vitorino, Anabela, Branco, Marco, Oliveira, Rafael
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.15/5768
• topic: children; development; health; fitness; physical activity; anxiety; niños; desarrollo; salud; forma fisica; actividad física; ansiedad

Introduction and Objective: Multi-problem families include several risk factors (e.g., mental health and weight issues). Physical exercise could be a strategy to prevent, treat and overcome numerous disorders. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the effects of implementing the Move4Future pilot program, in children and adolescents, on the following variables: i) anxiety levels, ii) body composition, iii) physical fitness, and iv) physical activity levels. Methodology: Ten participants (10.61±2.40 years) completed a 12-week physical exercise program with a weekly frequency of one session and were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The Re vised Manifest Anxiety Scale for Children, body mass, height, triceps skinfold, calf skinfold, re laxed arm circumference, waist circumference, calf circumference, and the FITescola® battery tests (push-ups, horizontal jump, agility, shoulder flexibility and lower limb flexibility) were applied. Results and Conclusions: The main results showed a lower anxiety trait, although this change was not statistically significant (z=-1.832, p=0.067), a significant increase in stature (z=-2.197, p=0.028), a significant decrease in body mass index (z=-2.366, p=0.018), and in waist circum ference (z=-2.201, p=0.028). The Move4Future pilot program shows improvement in average values of anxiety levels, body composition and upper strength in physical fitness. However, a multi-component intervention, including families and more sessions per week, may be im portant for better results.