AUTHOR=Zhu Guiming , Wang Miyu , Li Yuting , Li Pengfei , Shi Haijie , Jiang Limei , Zhou Sheng , Yin Rongbin 

TITLE=The impact of physical exercise with additional visual tasks on self-esteem in children: the mediating role of visual acuity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1539278

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1539278

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the effects of physical exercise incorporating additional visual tasks on self-esteem and visual acuity in children aged 11–12. Specifically, it explored the relationship between self-esteem and visual acuity and examines whether visual acuity mediates the impact of such exercise on self-esteem.MethodsThe study randomly selected four sixth-grade classes from a primary school in Suzhou as participants. The children were divided into two groups: one group engaged in physical exercise with additional visual tasks (n = 84), while the other group followed a regular physical exercise regimen (n = 83). The experiment lasted 16 weeks, and self-esteem levels, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), and kinetic visual acuity (KVA) were measured before and after the experiment.ResultsSignificant improvements in self-esteem were observed in both the experimental and control groups (p < 0.01). In the experimental group, notable enhancements were recorded in both UDVA and KVA for both eyes (p < 0.001). In contrast, the control group showed no significant change in left eye UDVA (p > 0.05), while right eye UDVA and KVA declined. A low positive correlation was identified between self-esteem and UDVA in both eyes within the experimental group, although no correlation was found between self-esteem and KVA. Additionally, left eye UDVA was moderately positively correlated with right eye UDVA. KVA was positively correlated with UDVA in both the left and right eyes. Physical exercise incorporating visual tasks was a significant positive predictor of self-esteem in 11-12-year-olds (β = 0.759, p < 0.01). UDVA in both eyes partially mediated the relationship between exercise and self-esteem (left eye 95% CI: [0.079, 0.400]; right eye 95% CI: [0.216, 0.666]).ConclusionPhysical exercise incorporating additional visual tasks can enhance self-esteem and improve both UDVA and KVA in children aged 11–12. Furthermore, the level of self-esteem in children was related to the level of UDVA in the right and left eyes. The UDVA of both eyes partially mediated the impact of physical exercise with additional visual tasks on self-esteem.