Culturally Relevant Interventions: The Impact of Traditional Peruvian Games on Stress Reduction and Well-Being in Children

Liliana Asunción Sumarriva-Bustinza, Zaida Olinda Pumacayo-Sánchez, Raúl Quincho-Apumayta, Vilma Inga-Choque, Abad Antonio Surichaqui-Mateo, Lucila Amelia De La Cruz-Rojas, Isaac Wilmer Montero-Yaranga, Juan Antonio Picoy-Gonzales, Rosaura Huarcaya-Taype, Tania Ayuque-Rojas

Abstract

This study assessed the effectiveness of traditional Peruvian games in reducing stress among children aged 8-12 years in both urban and rural settings. A total of 300 participants engaged in a six-week intervention incorporating culturally relevant games. Stress levels were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and heart rate variability (HRV) served as a physiological marker for stress. The results indicated a significant reduction in stress across all demographic groups, with an average decrease of 4.3 points on the PSS (p<0.001). HRV significantly improved, reflecting enhanced autonomic regulation, with a mean difference of +5.6 ms (p < 0.001). Urban children experienced slightly higher reductions in stress than their rural peers, and children from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds showed the greatest overall improvement in stress levels. Parental feedback also highlighted notable behavioral changes, including increased calmness, improved focus on schoolwork, and better peer interactions. These findings suggest that traditional games can serve as effective and culturally relevant interventions for reducing stress and promoting well-being among children, particularly in low-resource settings.

 

Keywords: Traditional games, Stress reduction, Children’s mental health, Heart rate variability, Cultural interventions

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55463/hkjss.issn.1021-3619.64.14


Full Text:

PDF


References


YU, E.W.-Y. (2019). Integration into the mainland: How does Macao participate in the development of the Quangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay area? Hong Kong Journal of Social Sciences, 53, 135-165. (In Chinese).

BERRY, J. W., POORTINGA, Y. H., SEGALL, M. H., & DASEN, P. R. (2011). Cross-cultural psychology: Research and applications (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.

BRANQUINHO, C., CARVALHO, M., AMADO, J., & GASPAR DE MATOS, M. (2022). Stress and well-being in children during the COVID-19 pandemic: A literature review. Journal of Child and Adolescent Health, 34(1), 56-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcha.2022.01.003

CHEN, Y., LI, J., ZHANG, X., & ZUO, H. (2018). Cultural identity and its role in children’s stress resilience. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 42(2), 189-198. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025417690268

COMPAS, B. E., CONNOR-SMITH, J. K., SALTZMAN, H., THOMSEN, A. H., & WADSWORTH, M. E. (2001). Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence: Problems, progress, and potential in theory and research. Psychological Bulletin, 127(1), 87–127.

EVANS, G. W. (2006). Child development and the physical environment. Annual Review of Psychology, 57(1), 423–451.

EVANS, G. W., & ENGLISH, K. (2002). The environment of poverty: Multiple stressor exposure, psychophysiological stress, and socioemotional adjustment. Child Development, 73(4), 1238–1248.

FLOOK, L., GOLDBERG, S. B., PINGER, L., & DAVIDSON, R. J. (2010). Mindfulness for teachers: A pilot study to assess effects on stress, burnout, and teaching efficacy. Mind, Brain, and Education, 4(1), 28–32.

GINSBURG, K. R. (2007). The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182-191.

GURYAN, J., HURST, E., & KEARNEY, M. S. (2008). Parental education and parental time with children. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 22(3), 23–46.

HUANG, L., SUN, Y., & ZHANG, W. (2023). Heart rate variability as a biomarker for stress management in children: Evidence from traditional play interventions. Pediatric Research, 98(2), 245-252. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-022-02145-w

LEVIN, M. E., HILDEBRANDT, M. J., LILLIS, J., & HAYES, S. C. (2012). The impact of treatment components suggested by the psychological flexibility model: A meta-analysis of laboratory-based component studies. Behavior Therapy, 43(4), 741-756.

LUPIEN, S. J., KING, S., MEANEY, M. J., & MCEWEN, B. S. (2001). Can poverty get under your skin? Basal cortisol levels and cognitive function in children from low and high socioeconomic status. Development and Psychopathology, 13(3), 653-676.

MARTÍNEZ, A., MORALES, E., & SOSA, D. (2023). Building resilience through traditional games: An analysis of stress management in Peruvian children. Childhood Development Research, 19(3), 156-171. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-12215-9

MARTÍNEZ, P., CALVO, R., & ESTÉVEZ, E. (2022). Autonomic regulation and stress management: The role of heart rate variability in childhood interventions. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 47(5), 289-299. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsab072

MCEWEN, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Central role of the brain. Physiological Reviews, 87(3), 873-904.

MENDOLIA, S., PALOYO, A. R., & WALKER, I. (2021). The mental health effects of COVID-19 and lockdown on children and adolescents: A systematic review. Journal of Health Economics, 30(2), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2021.1987668

PALMER, H., KIM, S., & WATSON, R. (2022). The role of play in stress relief and emotional well-being in childhood development. Journal of Childhood Education, 96(4), 432-450. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2021.1901189

PELLEGRINI, A. D. (2009). The role of play in human development. Oxford University Press.

PÉREZ, J., & OLAZABAL, M. (2021). Traditional games and emotional well-being: A study of stress relief among Peruvian children. International Journal of Educational Psychology, 10(2), 201-215. https://doi.org/10.4471/ijep.2021.26

PHINNEY, J. S., HORENCZYK, G., LIEBKIND, K., & VEDDER, P. (2001). Ethnic identity, immigration, and well-being: An interactional perspective. Journal of Social Issues, 57(3), 493-510.

RAMÍREZ, L., & UGARTE, M. (2021). Play and mental health: The impact of traditional games on social skills and emotional regulation. Journal of Play Therapy, 37(3), 273-290. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000147

RILEY, J. R., & MASTEN, A. S. (2005). Resilience in context. In R. DeV. Peters, B. Leadbeater, & R. McMahon (Eds.), Resilience in Children, Families, and Communities: Linking Context to Practice and Policy (pp. 13-25). Springer.

ROGOFF, B. (2003). The cultural nature of human development. Oxford University Press.

RUBIN, K. H., BUKOWSKI, W., & PARKER, J. G. (2006). Peer interactions, relationships, and groups. In N. Eisenberg (Ed.), Handbook of Child Psychology (6th ed., Vol. 3, pp. 571-645). Wiley.

RUTTER, M. (2012). Resilience as a dynamic concept. Development and Psychopathology, 24(2), 335-344.

SEMPLE, R. J., LEE, J., ROSA, D., & MILLER, L. F. (2010). A randomized trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children: Promoting mindful attention to enhance social-emotional resiliency in children. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19(2), 218-229.

SMITH, P. K., PELLEGRINI, A. D., & BOWERS, L. (2016). Play and its role in development. In The SAGE Handbook of Play and Learning in Early Childhood (pp. 15-28). SAGE Publications.

SUN, Y., TANG, X., & LI, M. (2021). Culturally grounded play interventions for emotional and social development in children. Developmental Psychology, 57(5), 325-333. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001160

TAN, R., LEE, W., & LIM, J. (2023). The impact of traditional games on heart rate variability and perceived stress in children. Journal of Child Health, 78(1), 41-52. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104522114381

THAYER, J. F., ÅHS, F., FREDRIKSON, M., SOLLERS, J. J., & WAGER, T. D. (2012). A meta-analysis of heart rate variability and neuroimaging studies: Implications for heart rate variability as a marker of stress and health. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 36(2), 747-756.

VYGOTSKY, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.

WANG, L., YANG, Q., & ZHU, J. (2022). The role of cultural heritage in stress relief: Traditional games as a resilience-building tool for children. Asian Journal of Psychology, 34(2), 198-212. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221019812


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.