ABSTRACT
This study was undertaken to examine the
impact of sports and recreational activities on the mental and emotional health
of secondary school students in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The survey research design was used. Four (4) research questions were raised to
guide the study. The following major findings were made: Stress management is
one of the major health benefits of recreation and sports, Active, sustained
participation in recreational activities improved self esteem, Sports and recreation
improves cognitive function and finally recreation helps to deal with anger,
fear and anxiety. The following
recommendations were made: Individuals should Endeavour to engage regularly in
recreation. Policies should be made that requires students to take part in
planned periodic physical activities from time to time across all class not
just junior students and not just during P.E classes. There should be periodic
health and exercise campaigns to educate students on the benefits of exercise,
recreation and sports, both short and long term. On a wider sphere, curriculum
planners should make physical education a core course in both junior and senior
secondary schools therefore creating the habits of active participation in
children before they become adults, as it is easier to cultivate habits at
young age and near-impossible to break bad ones at old age.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title
Page- - - - - - - - i
Certification- - - - - - - - iii
Dedication- - - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgement- - - - - - - v
Abstract- - - - - -- - - ix
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background
to the Study- - - - - - 1
Statement
of problem- - - - - - - 5
Purpose
of the Study- - - - - - - 5
Research
Questions- - - - - - - 6
Limitation
of the Study - - - - - - 6
Significance
of the Study - - - - - 7
Scope
of the Study- - - - - - - 7
Definition
of Terms- - - - - - - 8
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED
LITERATURE
Concept
of recreation- - - - - - - 10
Types
of Recreation- - - - - - - 14
Benefits
of Recreation- - - -- - - 19
Recreation
and Social Life- - - - - - 34
Recreation
and Emotional Health- - - - - 38
Recreation
and Stress Management- - - - - 40
Summary
of Literature Review- - - - - 41
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
Research
Design of the study - - - - - 43
Population
of the study- - - - - - 43
Sample
and Sampling Technique- - - - - 44
Research
Instrument- - - - - - - 44
Validity
- - - - - - - - 44
Reliability- - - - - - - - 45
Method of Data Collection - - - - - - 45
Method
of Data analysis - - - - - - 45
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
Discussion
of Findings - - - - - - 46
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary - - - - - - - 58
Conclusion- - -- - - - - - 59
Recommendations
- - - - - - - 60
REFERENCES- - - - - - - 62
Appendix- - - - - - - - 66
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Recreational
activities such as games, sports, and varied forms of exercise, contribute
greatly to the growth and development of people as individuals, as members of a
family and the society in general. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation. The
values of recreational activities need to promote healthy structural
development, growth and the acquisition of physical status. It is essential
therefore, that people learn the importance of physical fitness early enough in
life and develop the habit of participating in recreational activities which
will serve them later in life. It is imperative also that physical activity
programmes be continued beyond school years and that they will be enjoyable so
as to provide motivation for lifelong participation. This can best be achieved
through individual or group recreational activities such as walking, jogging,
swimming, tennis, squash, badminton, cycling, e. t. c. (en.Wikipedia.com, 2019)
Medical
experts have testified to the proven benefits of regular exercise and recreation
for improved health, stronger muscles, greater endurance and general feeling of
wellbeing. In view of this, it can be submitted that the need for regular
physical exercises through recreation is directly related to maintaining good
health and minimizing physical, emotional, psychological and social
degeneration of individuals. Suffix to say that the choice of recreating is one
which has enormous value to those who take part in such activities.
According to Idowuo (2012), Recreation is
an activity people engage in during their free time that enhance moment of
enjoyment, fun, excitement, pleasure, engrossment and refreshment of the brain
and body through active and passive activities. Unlike leisure, recreation has
a connotation of being morally acceptable not just to the individual but also
to society as a whole, and thus, we program for those activities within that
context. What this means is that, while recreation activities can take many
forms they must contribute to the society in a way that is socially acceptable.
There are endless recreational
activities in which the student secondary school students can be involved which
include sports, music, games, reading, art and crafts and dance. Most of these
activities are been abandoned by students. Few students also believe that sport
activities and exercises are only related with the Human Kinetics and health
education students and it is has nothing to do with their health. They feel
only obese or fat people should exercise or participate in recreational
activities. Based on Wilmort's, (2006) work, recreation is beneficial in that
it helps participant to: relax, reduce stress, stay healthy, refresh their
sense, refill their energy, build self-esteem and sharpen their skills.
According to Davis (2006), recreation has long been associated with benefits to
health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and bowel cancer with regular
physical activities. He noted the activities create positive outcomes such as
confidence, self-respect, trust and leadership abilities. Other benefits of
recreational sport include improvement of happiness, character building,
improvement of interaction with diverse sets of people and contribution to time
management (Ikulayo, 2016).
According to Maslow's 1954 hierarchy of
needs, the need for love and belongingness is the third level of human needs;
next to physiological and safety needs. In his opinion, human need to feel a
sense of belonging and acceptance among their social groups, regardless if
these groups are large or small. Examples of large social group may include
clubs, co-workers, religious groups, professional organizations, sport teams
and gangs while example of small social connections include family members,
intimate partners, mentor colleagues, and confidants. Human’s need to love, and
be loved by others many people become susceptible to loneliness, social anxiety
and clinical depression in the absence of this love or belonging element. This
need for belonging, for a successful social life, may overcome the physiological
and security needs, depending on circumstances. It becomes obvious that
definition of the social life cannot be complete without the mention of
interpersonal relationships with other human beings. Relationships with others
are the backbone of a realistic social life. This social life could however be
satisfactory or unsatisfactory (Picci, 2014).
Emotional health is a state of positive,
psychological functioning. It can be thought of as an extension of mental
health; it's the optimal functioning end of the thoughts, feelings and
behaviors that make up both our inner and outer world. It also includes overall
experience of wellness in what we think, feel and do through both the highs and
lows of life. One’s emotional health leads to positive change and personal
growth, a healthy sense of self confidence, a peaceful sense of healing and
recovery from mental challenges and sense of hope (Picci, 2014).
Thus in a situation where youths in the
prime of their lives, and who make up the vast majority of under graduates aim
to enjoy the best of social lives, one might be led to explore the field of
recreation to ascertain whether it can wield a significance influence on social
life and emotional health or not and to correct the wrong notions the student
have for recreational activities.
Statement of Problem
The
society is filled with a lot of disgruntled youths many of whom are victims of
frustration, low self-esteem, lack of confidence and inferiority complex among
mates or colleagues. These tends to embroil these youths feelings of lethargy,
despair and constant reminder of needs they could have satisfied and temptation
to commit atrocities, thus contributing to ills of the society and negative
impact on the mental and emotional health. How does recreation help cage these
frustrations, address the despair and help positive and productive purposes? I
is in an attempt to proffer answers to this question that the researcher has
decide to embark on this study of the impact of sports and recreational
activities on the mental and emotional health of secondary school students in
Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is to examine
the impact of sports and recreational activities on the mental and emotional
health of secondary school students in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo
State. Specifically the study aims to achieve the following:
- To
determine the influence of recreation on the interpersonal skills of
students in secondary school.
- To
examine the influence of recreation on the self-esteem/confidence of
students in secondary school.
- To
evaluate the relationship between recreation and emotional health of
students in secondary school.
Research Question
The following research questions are
raised t guide the study:
- Does
participation in sports and recreational activities have any effect on the
mental health of students in secondary school?
- What
are the mental benefits of sports and recreation to secondary school
students?
- Will
recreation influence the self confidence and self-esteem of students in
secondary school?
- Will
recreational activities influence the emotional health of students in
secondary school?
Significance of the Study
This study would be of importance to
female and male youth alike by revealing the benefits of sports participation
and recreation to them. It will also be useful to teachers, coaches and
guidance counselor since it has the potential of generating literature that
would constitute valuable material for advice and mentoring.
Scope and Delimitation of the Study
This study concerns itself with the impact of sports and
recreational activities in the mental and emotional health of secondary school
students. The findings of this study are restricted to pubic secondary schools
in Edo State
Limitation
of the Study
The researcher expects
to encounter certain problems/challenges in the course of the study such as
failure of respondents to return all administered questionnaires, irregular
completion of questionnaires.
Definition of Terms
Sports: A
generic name for all forms of
competitive physical activities which, through casual or organized
participation, aim to use, or improve physical activities or skills while
providing entertainment to participants and, in some case spectators.
Recreation:
This is an activity people engage in during their free time that enhance moment
of enjoyment.
Leisure:
freedom from the demands of work or duty.
Mental health:
An individual's mental capacity. A measure of a person’s intelligent approach
to life
Emotional health:
A state of positive psychological functioning.
Interpersonal skill:
the life skills that one uses every day to communicate and interact with other
people both individually and in groups.
Self-esteem:
A female undergraduate's overall emotional evaluation of her own worth.
Self-confidence:
A feeling of trust in one's own ability, quality and judgment
Leadership Skill:
capacity to lead.
Click “DOWNLOAD NOW” below to get the complete Projects
FOR QUICK HELP CHAT WITH US NOW!
+(234) 0814 780 1594
Login To Comment