Secular changes in physical fitness of Japanese children and development of physical literacy scale for Japanese children

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K11450
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59030:Physical education, and physical and health education-related
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Koya 順天堂大学, スポーツ健康科学部, 先任准教授 (60412376)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: フィジカルリテラシー / 体力 / 尺度開発

Outline of Final Research Achievements

First aim of this study was to encourage the secondary use of the physical fitness test data conducted by Japan Sports Agency and to understand the fitness trends among children through this secondary data use. We conducted a review of the current status of the national physical fitness surveys and the fitness tests. Furthermore, we reviewed fitness tests designed for preschool children and clarified the actual use of these tests in elementary school. We also identified physical fitness trends over recent years, which encompassed the period of widespread COVID-19 infection. Our second aim was to develop a physical literacy assessment test, as an alternative to physical fitness. We reviewed international trends concerning the assessment tests of the physical literacy and developed a preliminary version of a Japanese assessment test for physical literacy.

Free Research Field

発育発達学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

国内で用いられているPhysical Literacy評価尺度は存在しない。我々がその試案を提案することで、Physical Literacy研究が国内で発展することは間違いない。また教育現場における身体教育の評価尺度としての利用価値もあり、教育現場への影響、ひいては学習指導要領への影響も考えられる。