CompletedNot Applicable

Mixed PE Program Using Sports Games and Ball Sports in Left-Behind Children

China40 participantsStarted 2025-09-01

Plain-language summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether a 12-week school-based physical education program that combines cooperative sports games and ball sports can improve mental health and physical fitness in rural left-behind children. Left-behind children are those who remain in rural areas while one or both parents migrate for work. These children may experience social and emotional challenges in addition to physical health concerns. Forty sixth-grade boarding students who met the criteria for left-behind children were randomly assigned to either a mixed training group or a usual physical education control group. The intervention was delivered during regular school physical education classes three times per week, 90 minutes per session, for 12 weeks. Each session included cooperative physical games designed to promote peer interaction, followed by structured soccer or basketball training activities. Mental health was assessed using the Mental Health Test (MHT), and physical fitness was evaluated using standardized school-based tests including lung function, running performance, flexibility, and coordination. Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention. The study aims to determine whether optimizing the structure of routine school physical education can provide a feasible and scalable strategy to support both psychological well-being and physical development in vulnerable child populations.

Who can participate

Age range

12 Years – 13 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 12 to 13 years * Enrolled in the sixth grade of the participating rural primary school * Classified as left-behind children, defined as separation from one or both parents for more than six months due to parental migration for work * Boarding-school students during the study period * Provided written informed consent from legal guardians and written assent from the child Exclusion Criteria: * Children from single-parent families or orphans * Presence of physical, neurological, or medical conditions that would limit participation in regular physical activity * Participation in any structured extracurricular physical training program during the study period

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Mental Health Test (MHT) Total Score

Timeframe: Baseline and Week 12 (Immediately Post-Intervention)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07452302

SponsorAnhui Normal University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-01-09

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