The purpose of this study was to make a comparative analysis of the mental, social and physical effects of sports-related extracurricular activities implemented at school, to provide basic data for organizing extracurricular programs, and further for effectively solving physical problems such as obesity and weakness. For this, chosen were 187 elementary school students, participants in extracurricular programs being implemented at C elementary school located in Busan.
In order to produce results, two questionnaires were used: one for sub factors including appearance, health, regular exercise, obesity, muscular strength, confidence in sports, and endurance; the other for sub factors such as company and feelings with friends, loneliness, position among peers, degree of interest. For physique, height and weight were measured, and for basal physical fitness, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, muscular strength, and explosive muscular strength. The conclusions based on the results of this study are as follows:
1. Physical self-concept and peer relationships
For Physical self-concept and peer relationships, Both male and female participants in sports activities showed a positive effect on the sub factors. Especially in terms of the physical self-concept, males revealed increased confidence in sports and endurance for the sports group and non-sports group respectively, though the former had higher percentage of increase. On the other hand, females showed better appearance, more regular exercise and less obesity for the sports group and non-sports group respectively, though the former had higher percentage of improvement. And for the peer relationships, male non-sports club activity group showed less company with friends and position among their peers after the than before, while the degree of interest increased after. Therefore, the sports club activities after school has a positive effect on the physical self-concept and peer relationships.
2. Physique and physical fitness
For physique and physical fitness, male and female participants in sports activities all showed a positive effect on all factors. Especially for the group of male participants in sports activities, height increased and weight deceased, when compared with the group of male non-participants in sports activities. In comparison of before and after, for the group of participants and the group of non-participants each revealed increase in all the sub factors after, but the former was shown to have higher percentage of increase than the latter. Therefore, the sports club activities after school has a positive effect on physique and physical fitness.