Preferences of Physical Education Profiles Among Polish Adolescents

• Main Authors: Cezary Kuśnierz (Author), Barbara Zmaczyńska-Witek (Author), Aleksandra M. Rogowska (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2020-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2296-2565; 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00466
• Keywords: adolescents; gender; physical education preferences; physical activity; school level; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Frontiers in Public Health, Vol 8 (2020)

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of the preferred profiles of physical education (PE) classes with gender and school level among Polish adolescents. In the cross-sectional survey study, 1,340 Polish students (including 50% of girls) attending middle and high schools, aged between 13 and 19 years, participated. The participants selected one of four preferred profiles of PE classes. The majority (n = 845, 63%) of students participated in PE for "fun-pleasure-entertainment," whereas only one third of students (n = 419, 31%) preferred "exercise-sweat-fitness" as a profile of PE classes. The preference for "fun-pleasure-entertainment" decreased about 41% for boys and 31% for high school students. A preference for "exercise-sweat-fitness" increased about 56% for men and 31% for high school students. Teachers should comply with students' preferences related to PE profiles, organizing PE classes in more fun-related forms for girls and in more exercise-related forms for boys. The proportions of these two preferred profiles of PE classes should turn across adolescence, increasing exercise-related forms and decreasing those fun-related ones.