Analysis of University Students' Perspectives on Physical Activity and Mandatory Physical Education

Vol.18,No.1(2024)

Abstract

The decline in physical activity levels during the transition from high school to college is evident, despite the known impact of youth and adolescent physical activity on later life. Observable trends reveal a decline in enthusiasm for sports activities and a notable decrease in motivation for engaging in physical activity. The college environment plays a pivotal role in shaping students' engagement with physical activity, presenting an opportunity to significantly enhance their quality of life. This study's primary objective is to analyse university students' attitudes toward physical activity and assess their satisfaction with compulsory physical education at Masaryk University, comparing results spanning nearly two decades. In adherence to contemporary research methodologies, a questionnaire survey combining standard quantitative and qualitative analysis procedures was conducted. The survey questions focused on examining various facets of physical activity, including volume, intensity, sports preferences, and attitudes toward mandatory physical education at Masaryk University in Brno. A total of 1,293 respondents (422 men and 871 women) with an average age of 20.7 years participated in the study. The findings underscore a notable inclination among almost 73% of students to welcome an extension of compulsory physical education to 2 or more semesters (currently set at 2 semesters at MU). Moreover, over 75% of students express contentment with the spectrum of mandatory sports activities offered in physical education. The study reveals a growing interest among students in individual physical activities and a burgeoning enthusiasm for unorganized sports. These outcomes furnish valuable insights into students' perceptions regarding the organization of physical and sports education activities within university settings.


Keywords:
Physical activity; university students; motivation; mandatory physical education; attitude
References

Bodnaruková, M. (2009). Češi a cvičení. TSN AISA http://www.tnsaisa.cz/files/20090223_tns_aisa_tiskova_zprava_cviceni_v01fin.pdf

Breivik, G. (2020). The Sporting Exploration of the World; Toward a Fundamental Ontology of the Sporting Human Being. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, 14(2), 146–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2019.1572214

Carson, V., Rosu, A., & Janssen, I. (2014). A cross-sectional study of the environment, physical activity, and screen time among young children and their parents. BMC public health, 14 (1), 61.

Frömel, K. et al. (2007). Pohybová aktivita české mládeže: koreláty intenzivní pohybové aktivity. Česká kinantropologie, 11(4), 49‒55.

Gajdošík, J., & Baláž, O. (2012). Zájem o pohybové aktivity studentů medicíny Univerzity Karlovy. Studia Sportiva, 2012/6, č.2., 62‒69.

Gamache, R. (2020). Contextualizing Replay: Remediation, Affective Economies, Ontological Authority, and the Facade of Certitude. Sociology of Sport Journal, 37(3), 236–245. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2019-0070

Haase, A., Steptoe, A., Sallis, J.F. & Wardle, J. (2004). Leisure-time physical activity in university students from 23 countries: associations with health beliefs, risk awareness, and national economic development. Preventive Medicine, 39 (1), 182-190.

Hurych, E. (2019). Duchovní rozměr pohybu v sekularizující se společnosti: Celkový rámec a vybrané pohledy poutníků a běžců (Vydání první). Masarykova univerzita.

Jackson, S. A., Thomas, P. R., Marsh, H. W., & Smethurst, C. J. (2001). Relationships between Flow, Self-Concept, Psychological Skills, and Performance. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 13(2), 129–153. https://doi.org/10.1080/104132001753149865

Král, P., Vislocká, M., & Voldán, P. (2003) Postavení pohybových a sportovních aktivit v životě studentů malé regionální fakulty.

Kučera, M., Kolář, P., & Dylevský, I. (2011). Dítě, sport a zdraví. Galén.

Lawshe, C. H. (1975). A quantitative approach to content validity. Personnel Psychology, 28(4), 563–575.

Lenková, R., Rubická, J. (2002). Názory vysokoškoláčok na vplyv a význam pohybovej aktivity na ich zdravie a organizmus. Studia art et sport, 2, 40- 47.

Leonte, N., 2012. Physical education and sport – important factors in the definition of the attitudinal system of the teenagers. Gymnasium

Lipiec, J. (1999). Filozofia olimpizmu. Polskie Wydawnictwo Sportowe Sprint.

Mareš, L. (2023). ‘Philosophising with Athletes and Their Coaches’: On Using Philosophical Thinking and Dialogue in Sport. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, 17(2), 185–203. https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2022.2148724

Morris, L. S., Grehl, M. M., Rutter, S. B., Mehta, M., & Westwater, M. L. (2022). On what motivates us: A detailed review of intrinsic v. extrinsic motivation. Psychological Medicine, 52(10), 1801–1816. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291722001611

Muthuri, S. K., Wachira, L.-J. M., Leblanc, A. G., Francis, C. E., Sampson, M., Onywera, V. O., & Tremblay, M. S. (2014). Temporal trends and correlates of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and physical fitness among school-aged children in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 11(3), 3327-3359.

Pelka, F., Budinská, M. (2001). Eurobarometr ČR 1998–2000. Závěrečná zpráva o názorech mládeže ČR ve věku 15–24 let na otázky mezinárodního srovnávacího výzkumu.

Provazníková, H., Schneiderová, D. (2005). Zátěž vysokoškolským studiem. Projekt Zdravcentra. https://www.zdravcentra.cz/cps/rde/xchg/zc/xsl/3141_3415.html

Richmond, R. C., Smith, G. D., Ness, A. R., den Hoed, M., McMahon, G., & Timpson, N. J. (2014). Assessing Causality in the Association between Child Adiposity and Physical Activity Levels: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis. Plos medicine, 11(3), 100-116.

Roe, D. (2021). Pedagogies of Sport in Youth Detention: Withholding, Developing, or Just “Busying the Youth”? Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 50(2), 261–288. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891241620986844

Rosario, M. A. B. (2023). Level Of Motivational Factors Of Athletes In Relation To Their Sports Participation. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.46827/ejpe.v10i2.4961

Rychtecký, A.(2002). Integrační potenciál sportu. Sport a kvalita života.

Sallis, J. F., Bull, F., Guthold, R., Heath, G. W., Inoue, S., Kelly, P., Hallal, P. C. (2016). Progress in physical activity over the Olympic quadrennium. Lancet, 388 (10051), 1325–1336.

Schaal, S. (2014). Becoming a Health-Promoting School: Effects of a 3 – Year Intervention on School Development and Pupils Topics and Trends in Current Science Education. Springer.

Senlin, Ch., Haichun, S., Xihe, Z., Ang, Ch. (2014). Relationship Between Motivation and Learning in Physical Education and After-School Physical Activity. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. Shape America.

Serrano-Durá, J., Molina, P., & Martínez-Baena, A. (2021). Systematic review of research on fair play and sporting competition. Sport, Education and Society, 26(6), 648–662. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2020.1786364

Sigmundová, D., El Ansari, W., & Sigmund, E. (2011). Neighbourhood environment correlates of physical activity: a study of eight Czech regional towns. International journal of environmental research and public health, 8 (2), 341-357.

Simons, E. E., & Bird, M. D. (2023). Coach-athlete relationship, social support, and sport-related psychological well-being in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education, 17(3), 191–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/19357397.2022.2060703

Slepičková, I. (2009). Sociology of Lifestyle. Karolinum press.

St Quinton, T., & Brunton, J. A. (2020). The Key Psychological Beliefs Underlying Student Participation in Recreational Sport. Recreational Sports Journal, 44(1), 38–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558866120932179

Steptoe, A., Wardle, J., Fuller, R., Holte, A., Justo, J., Sanderman, R. & Wichstrom, L. (1997). Leisure-time physical exercise: prevalence, attitudinal correlates, and behavioral correlates among young european from 21 countries. Preventive medicine, 26 (6), 845 - 854.

Střeštíková, R., & Svobodová, Z. (2019). Komparace postojů ke sportovně pohybovým aktivitám studentů MU Brno v letech 2005 a 2014. Vysokoškolská telesná výchova a šport, pohybová aktivita a zdravý životný štýl.

Svobodová, Z. (2020) Analysis of Masaryk University students’ interest in sports courses in mandatory physical education. Masaryk University Press.

Tammelin, T. (2003). Physical activity from adolescence to adulthood and health- related fitness at age 31. Cross- sectional and longitud Finland birth cohort of 1966.

Truong, L. K., Mosewich, A. D., Holt, C. J., Le, C. Y., Miciak, M., & Whittaker, J. L. (2020). Psychological, social and contextual factors across recovery stages following a sport-related knee injury: A scoping review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(19), 1149–1156. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101206

Valjent, Z. (2010). Aktivní životní styl vysokoškoláků (studentů FEL ČVUT v Praze). Disertační práce. Praha: FTVS UK.

Waldron, J. J., & Dieser, R. B. (2010). Perspectives of fitness and health in college men and women. Journal of College Student Development, 51(1), 65‒78.

Welch, R., Taylor, N., & Gard, M. (2021). Environmental attunement in health, sport and physical education. Sport, Education and Society, 26(4), 339–348. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2021.1890009

World Health Organization. (2020). WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour: at a glance, https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789240014886

Metrics

0

Crossref logo

0


140

Views

70

PDF views