The effect of physical activity on mother-child relationship and parental attitudes: a follow-up study examining the long-term effects of COVID-19.

Objective: This study was planned to evaluate effects of game-based physical activity model on mother-child relationship and parental attitudes during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic period.

Subjects And Methods: This study was designed using a web-based quasi-experimental model with a pre-test/post-test evaluation, with a control group. The mothers who accepted to participate in the study and their children were divided into experimental (group I, n=28) and control groups (group II, n=31). The mothers and children in the experimental group were asked to apply web-based game-based physical activity model for 20 minutes/day for 4 weeks. The online questionnaire included socio-demographic data form, Child Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS), and Parental Attitude Scale (PAS).

Results: There were no significant differences between mean scores of pre-test and post-test subscales of the PAS in group I (p>0.05 for all subscales). It was found that post-test scores of democratic subscales of PAS statistically significant decreased (p=0.047) and the authoritarian attitude subscale scores significantly increased (p=0.033) in group II. The mean pre- and post-activity scores of positive/close relationship and conflictual relationship subscales of CPRS differ between groups (p<0.05 for both subscales). Pre-post test scores of group II were found to be significantly lower compared to group II.

Conclusions: Our study provides a moderate improvement in parameters evaluated; however, we suggest that longer-term activities may have a more permanent and statistically significant effect.