Abstract
Background: The physical activity preferences (PAP) and attitude towards health's promotion among freshers from different classes while maintaining a constant level of physical activity (PA) intervention. Objective: To determine changes in the PAP of future physical education teachers and health educators. Methods: The studies were carried out in 2000 and 2008 year with students from Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education (LAPE). A standardized, self administered questionnaire was filled in by 577 fresher students (244 males and 333 females). Results: There were fewer students who wanted to attend a special health training course (coping with stress, remedial exercise, healthy nutrition) in 2008 than in 2000 (males 57.8% and 46.7%, p < 0.1; females 84.4% and 71.2% p < 0.02 respectively). Females showed a more critical view of the environment of the academy than males and mentioned that there were fewer possibilities for healthy nutrition in the academy in 2008 than in 2000 (26.1% and 19.12% p < 0.02). After eight years students are using health promotion tools less often in the academy. The number of students who used vigorous and strengthening activities decreased in 2008 comparing with the year 2000 (males 59.2% and 46.7%; females 47.7% and 22.5% p < 0.001, respectively). Also fewer of them chose wellness centers (males 27.6% and 22.8%, females 37.0% and 11.6% p < 0.001, respectively). There were fewer females who reported having participated in activities which made them sweat and breathe hard (2-3 times/week and more) in 2008 than in 2000 (χ2 = 49.05, p < 0.001). The Contingency Coefficient (C), measuring the strength of this association was at .369. Conclusions: The data suggest that there is an increasing need for intervention to promote PA among students who enter the academy and continue studying here. Recommendations: It is necessary to develop physical activity programs for an integral academy education, mainly in females, avoiding the lowering of physical activity as they move higher at the educational level. Also the plan to increase the number of physical activities and exercises must be included in curricular scenarios, and the use of leisure time must be oriented towards physical activity.
Highlights
The realities of post modem social life raise new tasks for the system of education and academic communities
There were fewer students in the year 2008 than in the year 2000 who mentioned living with their parents (62.7% and 50.6%; p < 0.02 respectively) and many more living in a hall of residence (13.3% and 33.5%; p < 0.001 respectively)
In the year 2008 according to gender differences, there were more males who lived with their parents (49.5% and 56.8%) and many more living in a hall of residence (31.6% and 27.6%)
Summary
The realities of post modem social life raise new tasks for the system of education and academic communities. These new forms legitimate the postmodern world view, which gives a push to modernity and the dominance of its specialties and, increasingly, to states of discrepancy, pluralism, holism and some uncertainty Such aspects as communication with members of the academic community, experiencing positive emotions, the organization of studies, student needs, analysis of documents of higher education, which enables students to evaluate their rights, could have a great impact on the future career peculiarities and professional image influencing the image of a specialist of physical education and sport in our society (Karanauskienė, Kardelienė, & Kardelis, 2007). The physical activity preferences (PAP) and attitude towards health’s promotion among freshers from different classes while maintaining a constant level of physical activity (PA) intervention
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