Correlates of school sport participation: A cross-sectional study in urban Portuguese students

Abstract

Summary Objective To identify the correlate associated with boys’ and girls’ participation in school sports. Methods and subjects A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 2617 Portuguese students (1336 boys, 1281 girls), aged 10–18 years old (15.3 ± 2.5). A questionnaire was used to collect data. Age, body mass index, physical activity, goal orientation, perceptions, attitudes and importance of being popular at school were evaluated as potential correlates of school sports. Chi-square and binary logistic regression analyses were applied. Results For boys, participating in organized physical activity and attitude towards physical activity were associated with participating in school sports. For girls, a positive association was found between participating in school sports and age, the practice of organized physical activity, attitude towards PE and the importance attributed to being popular. Conclusions Organized physical activity, attitudes and importance of being popular were variables associated with school sports participation when all variables were considered in the analysis. Socioeconomic status is not a significant predictor of school sports participation, meaning that in school settings, all students can have the same opportunities to practice physical activity.