Martial arts-based curriculum reduces stress, emotional, and behavioral problems in elementary schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study.
Hilary A MarusakBreanna BorgAustin MoralesJamila Carrington SmithKelly BlankenshipJ Lloyd AllenElimelech GoldbergMartin H BluthPublished in: Mind, brain and education : the official journal of the International Mind, Brain, and Education Society (2021)
This exploratory study examined the impact of Heroes Circle, a martial arts-based curriculum on stress, emotional, and behavioral problems in elementary school children. While students completed classroom surveys at baseline, post-curriculum surveys were collected from teachers, students, and parents/guardians two and five months after COVID-19-related school shutdowns. Satisfaction with the curriculum was high among those who received the intervention. Children reported increased mindfulness and decreased stress over the school year. Most children (77%) were still using the program's techniques and reporting benefits five months later, including lower internalizing symptoms and COVID-19-related fears. These patterns were not observed at the control school.
Keyphrases
- high school
- quality improvement
- mental health
- medical education
- coronavirus disease
- medical students
- physical activity
- sars cov
- emergency medicine
- young adults
- randomized controlled trial
- stress induced
- cross sectional
- emergency department
- chronic pain
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- adverse drug
- depressive symptoms
- drug induced