Chung, Ho Jin

Physical Education (PE) classes at primary schools in Singapore have been conducted based on the PE syllabus in which the mission and vision are stated as "Developing a Curriculum to Meet the Needs of the Nation, Community and Individual" and "Every Child is Physically Educated' respectively. Especially, PERI (2009) emphasised the non-academic courses in the curriculum and reported that PE is a subject which gives students an opportunity to build confidence and relationships with others as well as develop leadership, character and diverse skills.
While the Singapore MOE has continuously supported primary school PE in recent days, the PE was reported as 'just playing' in the past before optional 0-level PE syllabus was executed in 2007 (Fry & Tan, 2005). The research of Fry and Tan (2005) described how students perceive PE of Singapore but the overall epistemological structure as well as why the discourse on primary school PE classes amongst current students is constituted in such a way that brings them discursive meaning are less clear due to the lack of study in this area.
By Foucault, the Singapore's primary school PE class cannot be defined as it is. It is a discourse that is constituted by surrounding people of that age (Chung, 2009). It is critical because it does not illustrate past facts from a present perspective but rather describe them at the present perspective (Lee, 2003). To study episteme, new research method is required which is different to an existing historical method and that is archaeology which can be used to analyse a history of the present. Foucault traces why people use the 'particular' discourse, not other discourse as well as why the people's views on the discourse are necessarily formed in a particular way. Disclosing the structure of the discourse through Foucault's approach, it can be found how an educational policy in Singapore has been developed and progressed.

A coach has a great influence on athletes’ performance and development. Communication and coaching styles that work with male athletes may not be effective in female athletes. The alignment of coaching to the preferences of female athletes is important for effective coaching and their holistic development. Therefore, it is essential to understand how female athletes perceive an ideal coach. The purpose of this research is to uncover how Singapore national beach volleyball female athletes voice about an ideal coach. Seven Singapore national beach volleyball female athletes were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The three main themes are – understanding the female athletes, being a role model with responsibility, and possessing rich experience as a coach and athlete. The three main themes that were developed from the voices of the Singapore national beach volleyball female athletes are supported by the literature on transformational coaching in terms of these components: idealized influence and individualized consideration. The findings of this research could help to establish a more comfortable, trusting and well-communicated training environment for female athletes.

The objective of the current study was to examine the trends of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) of adolescents in Singapore with two datasets 15 years apart (2006 and 2021). A total sample of 1075 secondary students (mean age = 14.91 ± 0.43 years old) from 15 schools in Singapore took part in the study. A seven-day recall Self-administered Physical Activity Checklist (SAPAC) questionnaire was used to capture time spent on the internet/computer, gaming, homework, reading, sitting and talking/listening to music, telephone, television watching, and PA. Results showed that the 2021 sample spent significantly more time on gaming, homework, sit and talk/listening to music, phone, and PA compared to the 2006 sample, while time spent watching television was significantly lower than the 2006 sample. Both datasets found PA had low or close to zero correlations with all the seven SB, however, the patterns of correlations were different in the two datasets, indicating changes in the trends of SB and PA. Cluster analysis found similar cluster profiles in the two samples but the cluster proportions for certain profiles were different from the two datasets. Significant sex differences were also found in the cluster compositions. Overall, this study shows that PA and SB trends of adolescents have changed significantly.

This study investigates the effects of different types of physical activity (PA) on the physical fitness (PF) of young children in Japan, with a particular focus on how substituting sedentary behavior (SB) with active behaviors influences PF. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1843 participants aged 3–6 years from northeastern Japan. Using triaxial accelerometers, we quantified PA, and PF was assessed via standardized tests. The innovative application of isotemporal substitution modeling (ISM) allowed us to analyze the impact of reallocating time from SB to more active states, specifically moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light physical activity (LPA). Our findings reveal a robust association between increased MVPA and enhanced PF outcomes, underscoring the health benefits of reducing SB. Notably, replacing SB with LPA also showed beneficial effects on certain PF metrics, indicating LPA's potential role in early childhood fitness. These results highlight the critical importance of promoting MVPA and minimizing sedentary periods to bolster PF in young children. The study offers vital insights for shaping public health policies and emphasizes the need to cultivate an active lifestyle from an early age to secure long-term health advantages.

Fitspiration content on social media has been popularized over the last few years, with the intention to influence users to lead healthy and fit lifestyles. The present study aimed to identify the impact of fitspiration content on social media among young adult followers in Singapore. Method: Participants were 124 university students in Singapore who completed a cross-sectional survey. The survey included 16 multiple choice questions, 4 short-answer questions and 8 open-ended questions. Descriptive statistics was adopted for quantitative data and content analysis was utilized for qualitative data. The perceived impact of fitspiration content was explained through three themes: 1) Positive impact of fitspiration content on social media, 2) Negative impact of fitspiration content on social media, and 3) Perceived impact of social media on self. Three other themes were also developed for understanding the conditions influenced by fitspiration content on social media: 1) Evaluation and satisfaction with one's fitness journey, 2) Motivational levels of participants, and 3) Diet restrictions. Results showed that positive impact were experienced by the majority of the participants, whereas some participants experienced negative impacts. It was concluded that fitspiration content on social media does inspire users to become a better version of themselves both physically and mentally. However, it is also dependent on the perceptions of the users and the extent to which they allowed such content to influence them.

CrossFit is a combination of movements from various sport disciplines such as Olympic Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Gymnastics executed at high intensity. It has shown to bring about physiological and psycho-social benefits to members, increasing exercise adherence. Established in 2005, CrossFit has seen an exponential growth since, with 13,991 CrossFit affiliates worldwide. The popularity of the program despite its disposition to injury requires greater attention to its safety. This research aims to understand (1) reasons of injury among CrossFitters; (2) Injury management techniques among CrossFitters. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine CrossFitters from five Singapore CrossFit affiliates. Data was transcribed and thematically analyzed. Findings revealed that causes of injury include poor workout program designs, insufficient physiological knowledge passed down from coaches to athletes, athlete’s impatience when learning new skills as well as athletes conforming to performance and peer pressures. Further, Crossfitters manage their injuries through self-care physiological means and with professional guidance. The study concludes that coaches play a vital role in both the prevention and management of injuries. Therefore, they should design their programs with the athlete’s safety in mind and foster an environment that values patience, strength building discipline and safety. Athletes should also pay extra attention to their movement technique and be self-reflective in their physical capabilities. All athletes should regularly practice conservative physiological recovery methods and seek treatment or diagnosis from medical practitioners when necessary.