An Examination of University Students’ Attitudes Toward Physical Education and Their Sport and Physical Activity Preferences

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine factors that form university students’ attitudes toward physical education (ATPE), the preference of their physical activities (PA), and correlation features among all related factors that form their ATPE. Participants were 1,386 university students from six universities in China. An Adapted Attitudes Toward Physical Education and Physical Activity Preferences Questionnaire was employed in data collection. Data analyses included a 2 × 2 × 2 MANOVA and correlation analysis. The results revealed the ATPE mean-scores ranking (e.g., No. 1 “keep physically fit and strong” and No. 2 “good posture and sturdy body”). Significant differences exist in ATPE mean scores between genders with males scoring higher than females and between majors with natural science scoring higher than social science. The PA preferences ranking of the students was team sports, weight lifting, individual sports, aerobic exercise, dual-game sports, and martial arts. Relationships between ATPE and PA in the university students were exposed and analyzed. The reasons behind these findings were discussed.