Students’ Attitude Toward Physical Education: Relations With Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Self-Concept

Authors

  • Élvio Rúbio Gouveia 1Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal; 2Madeira Interactive Technologies Institute, Funchal, Portugal; 3Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Andreas Ihle 3Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; 4Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Bruna Raquel Gouveia 5 Saint Joseph of Cluny Higher School of Nursing, Funchal, Portugal; 6Health and Social Affairs Administration Institute of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal; 3Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Ana José Rodrigues 1Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal;
  • Adilson Marques 7 Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance, Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
  • Duarte Luís Freitas 1Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal; 8 Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
  • Matthias Kliegel 3Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; 4Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Ana Luísa Correia 1Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal;
  • Ricardo Alves 1Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal;
  • Helder Lopes 1Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal;

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18666/TPE-2019-V76-I4-8923

Keywords:

Students’ attitude, Physical Education, Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, Self-Concept

Abstract

This study investigated the relation between students’ attitude toward physical education (PE) and its correlates by simultaneously considering age, sex, enjoying physical activity (PA), self-perceived physically active lifestyle (PAL), self-perception of physical competence, PA, and cardiovascular fitness (CF). This cross-sectional study included 235 students (M = 15.2 ± 2.5 years). All correlates of students’ attitude toward PE were assessed via questionnaires. CF was assessed by via Fitnessgram. Pearson correlation coefficients confirmed a large positive correlation between attitude toward PE and PA enjoyment (r = .71, p < .001) and PAL (r = .52, p < .001). Moderate positive correlations were found for self-perception of physical competence, nonorganized PA, organized PA, and CF (.24 ? r ? .48, ps < .001) . Multiple linear regression showed that enjoying PA (? = .62, p < .001) was the only significant predictor when all variables were considered simultaneously. The model explained 55% of explained variance on students’ attitude toward PE. Binary logistic regressions showed that students who reported enjoying PA were 9.3 times more likely to report a positive attitude toward PE. In contrast, students who did not enjoy PA and those who overperformed in the CF test were 4.2 and 1.1 , respectively, more likely to report a negative attitude toward PE. Coherently across all analyses, from all the predictors studied, PA enjoyment seems to be the most powerful, showing the highest contribution in explaining students’ attitude toward PE.

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Author Biography

Élvio Rúbio Gouveia, 1Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal; 2Madeira Interactive Technologies Institute, Funchal, Portugal; 3Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Department of Physical Edication and Sports

Published

2019-10-15

Issue

Section

Articles