THE ROLE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS IN DEVELOPING HUMAN CAPITAL AND ENSURING NATIONAL SECURITY
Keywords:
physical education, sports, human capital, national security, cognitive development, social cohesion, workforce productivity, psychological resilience, military readiness, sustainable development.Abstract
Physical education and sports play a crucial role in the development of human capital and the enhancement of national security. This study examines the multidimensional benefits of structured physical activity, including improvements in physical health, cognitive performance, psychological resilience, and social cohesion. Engagement in sports fosters discipline, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills, which are essential components of productive and adaptive human capital. Moreover, a physically and mentally fit population contributes to national security by supporting military readiness, civil defense, and emergency response capabilities. Despite these benefits, challenges such as limited infrastructure, unequal access, and insufficient policy support can reduce the effectiveness of physical education programs. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating sports into national development strategies to promote sustainable societal growth, workforce productivity, and national resilience. Strategic investment in physical education and sports emerges as a critical tool for enhancing individual well-being, strengthening human capital, and ensuring the security of nations.
Downloads
References
Bailey, R., Armour, K., Kirk, D., Jess, M., Pickup, I., & Sandford, R. (2009). The educational benefits claimed for physical education and school sport: An academic review. Research Papers in Education, 24(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/02671520701809817
Bailey, R., & McLaren, S. (2017). Physical education, sport and human capital development. Journal of Education and Development, 5(2), 45–61.
Biddle, S. J. H., & Asare, M. (2011). Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: A review of reviews. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 45(11), 886–895. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2011-090185
Chang, Y. K., Labban, J. D., Gapin, J. I., & Etnier, J. L. (2013). The effects of acute exercise on cognitive performance: A meta-analysis. Brain Research, 1453, 87–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2012.10.032
Coalter, F. (2013). Sport for development: What game are we playing? Routledge.
Coleman, J. S. (1988). Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94(Supplement), S95–S120. https://doi.org/10.1086/228943
Mangan, J. A. (2012). Athleticism in the Victorian and Edwardian public school: The emergence and consolidation of an educational ideology. Routledge.
Sallis, J. F., Owen, N., & Fisher, E. B. (2012). Ecological models of health behavior. In K. Glanz, B. K. Rimer, & K. Viswanath (Eds.), Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (4th ed., pp. 465–486). Jossey-Bass.
Tomporowski, P. D., Davis, C. L., Miller, P. H., & Naglieri, J. A. (2015). Exercise and children’s intelligence, cognition, and academic achievement. Educational Psychology Review, 17(2), 111–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-005-0019-0
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All content published in the Journal of Applied Science and Social Science (JASSS) is protected by copyright. Authors retain the copyright to their work, and grant JASSS the right to publish the work under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). This license allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, even commercially, as long as they credit the author(s) for the original creation.
