Association between after-school physical exercise duration and anxiety symptoms among preschool children

FAN Mingyuan; ZHANG Lili; MIAO Xueqing; ZHONG Qing; LI Wangsong; ZENG Xiyuan; TANG Xinyi; JIA Yidan; SHI Huijing; HU Yanqi; CHEN Changzhou

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0644

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (9) : 964-968. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0644

Child Mental Health and Emotional Problems

Association between after-school physical exercise duration and anxiety symptoms among preschool children

FAN Mingyuan^1*, ZHANG Lili^2*, MIAO Xueqing², ZHONG Qing³, LI Wangsong¹, ZENG Xiyuan¹, TANG Xinyi⁴, JIA Yidan⁵, SHI Huijing⁶, HU Yanqi^{2, 7}, CHEN Changzhou¹

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Abstract

Objective To explore the correlation between anxiety symptoms and the duration of after-school physical exercise in preschool children, in order to provide a scientific basis for preventing anxiety in preschool children. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to June 2024.A total of 1 786 children from two public kindergartens in Minhang District, Shanghai, were included.Parents were invited to complete the basic information of after-school physical exercise and the Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale (Preschool Anxiety Scale, PAS) for the survey. Results Finally, 1 590 valid questionnaires were obtained.The average age of the participants was (4.58±0.86) years old, with male-to-female ratio of 1.09∶1.The prevalence of anxiety symptoms in preschool children was 2.14%.One-way ANOVA showed statistically significant differences in total PAS score, fears of physical injury, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder among children with different durations of after-school physical exercise (F=2.85, 2.57, 2.67, 3.35, P<0.05).Linear mixed effects model analysis showed that the duration of after-school physical exercise of ≥180 min per week was significantly negatively correlated with the total PAS score (β=-2.97, 95%CI: -5.43 - -0.52), fears of physical injury score (β=-1.07, 95%CI: -1.83 - -0.30), social phobia score(β=-0.90, 95%CI: -1.65 - -0.15), and obsessive compulsive disorder score (β=-0.42, 95%CI: -0.82 - -0.03). Conclusions There is a significant negative correlation between anxiety symptoms and the duration of after-school physical exercise among preschool children.Parents and society should emphasize regular after-school physical exercise in preschool children, with particular attention to duration, to reduce the risk of anxiety symptoms and promote early mental health development.

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after-school physical exercise / preschool children / anxiety symptoms / Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale

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FAN Mingyuan, ZHANG Lili, MIAO Xueqing, ZHONG Qing, LI Wangsong, ZENG Xiyuan, TANG Xinyi, JIA Yidan, SHI Huijing, HU Yanqi, CHEN Changzhou. Association between after-school physical exercise duration and anxiety symptoms among preschool children[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2026, 34(9): 964-968 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0644

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