Enjoyment of Physical Activity-Not MVPA during Physical Education-Predicts Future MVPA Participation and Sport Self-Concept.

Jared D Ramer,Eduardo E Bustamante,Natalie E Houser,Robert J Duncan

doi:10.3390/sports9090128

Abstract

There exists a general understanding that physical education (PE) is a means to create a physically healthy population. However, disagreements arise over primary practices within PE to achieve this end. The primary divergence is whether PE facilitators should primarily ensure participants exert a specific level of energy during class or develop their confidence, competence, knowledge, and motivation for meaningful physical activity (PA) participation outside of the PE classroom (referred to as physical literacy (PL)). This study uses structural equation modeling to examine associations between enjoyment of PA and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in PE class in grade 5 (mean age = 10) and participation in PA and feelings about PA 1 year later, in grade 6 (mean age = 11), in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD, N = 1364). Enjoyment of PA in grade 5 predicted sport self-concept (β = 0.347, p ≤ 0.001), MVPA (β = 0.12, p ≤ 0.001), and enjoyment of PA (β = 0.538, p ≤ 0.001) in grade 6. These associations remained when including weekday MVPA performed in grade 5 as an indirect effect (β = 0.058, p ≤ 0.001). MVPA performed during PE in grade 5 was not associated with any PA outcomes in grade 6. Findings suggest PE instructors should prioritize PL development over maintenance of high energy expenditure during PE class for long-term MVPA.

Highlights

Published: 10 September 2021Though exercise and physical activity (PA) are very similar, the two terms are not synonymous
PA is any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that increases energy expenditure above resting levels; exercise is a subcategory of PA with the components of planning, structure, repetitiveness, and purposive striving toward the objective of physical fitness
Studies testing the effects of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on children have demonstrated profound health benefits from participation, including improved adiposity, triglyceride levels, HDL-C levels, inflammation, endothelial function, cardiovascular fitness, musculoskeletal health, insulin sensitivity, brain structure, brain function, cognition, math performance, mental health, and self-concept [2,3,4,5]

Summary

Introduction

Published: 10 September 2021Though exercise and physical activity (PA) are very similar, the two terms are not synonymous. PA is any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that increases energy expenditure above resting levels; exercise is a subcategory of PA with the components of planning, structure, repetitiveness, and purposive striving toward the objective of physical fitness. Both exercise and PA are often measured in kilocalories and generate improvements in physical fitness as PA intensity, duration, and frequency increase [1]. Studies testing the effects of MVPA on children have demonstrated profound health benefits from participation, including improved adiposity, triglyceride levels, HDL-C levels, inflammation, endothelial function, cardiovascular fitness, musculoskeletal health, insulin sensitivity, brain structure, brain function, cognition, math performance, mental health, and self-concept [2,3,4,5]. One means of getting children active is physical education (PE), and in recent years, there has been a push to ensure that children achieve the recommended amount of MVPA during PE

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