Effectiveness of an 8-Week Game-Based Physical Activity Program in Reducing Post-Traumatic Stress among Children Affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaras Earthquakes
Küçük Resim Yok
Tarih
2025
Dergi Başlığı
Dergi ISSN
Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
Tech Science Press
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Özet
Objectives: This study examines the effectiveness of an eight-week game-based physical activity program designed to reduce post-traumatic stress levels in children affected by the Kahramanmara & scedil;-centered earthquakes that occurred in Turkey on 06 February 2023. Following the earthquake, millions of children experienced significant changes in their education and living conditions, adversely affecting their psychological health. Methods: The therapeutic effects of physical activity on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are frequently emphasized in the literature, and this study specifically focuses on the impact of game-based exercises. The research employed an experimental design, involving 80 earthquake-affected children aged 10 to 13, who were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 40) or a control group (n = 40). The experimental group participated in game-based physical activities three times per week for eight weeks, with each session lasting 60 min. Data were collected using the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTS-RI), and pre-test and post-test comparisons were conducted. Results: Children in the experimental group showed a marked reduction in PTSD symptoms, with mean CPTS-RI scores decreasing from 2.60 at pre-test to 1.91 at post-test. In contrast, the control group's scores remained virtually unchanged (2.59 at pre-test vs. 2.57 at post-test). Two-way ANOVA demonstrated significant main effects of group and time, as well as a significant group x time interaction (F = 114.88, p < 0.001, eta(2) = 0.42), indicating that the reduction was attributable to participation in the game-based physical activity program. These findings highlight not only the statistical significance but also the practical relevance of structured, culturally adapted physical activity interventions for trauma-exposed children. Conclusion: These findings suggest that regular, structured game-based physical activities can support the mental health of children following traumatic events such as earthquakes and reduce their stress levels. The study recommends integrating physical activity into post-disaster psychosocial support programs and highlights it as an effective, accessible, and enjoyable method to enhance children's trauma coping skills. Accordingly, it advocates for the wider implementation of physical activity-based interventions in similar crisis situations.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
Earthquake-affected children, post-traumatic stress, game-based physical activity, child post-traumatic stress reaction index (CPTS-RI), psychological well-being
Kaynak
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion
WoS Q Değeri
Q3
Scopus Q Değeri
Q3
Cilt
27
Sayı
11
