Physical Activity Preferences Of Urban, Middle School Students Students

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical activity preferences of middle school students. METHODS: Participants were 219 students in grades 6-8 at a public, urban middle school. Data were collected via self-report questionnaire that included questions with specified options and questions with write-in opportunities assessing demographic information, physical activity preferences, and activities students would like to learn. RESULTS: Results indicated that the middle school boys (n=113) were 12.65 (± 1.63) years old and overall preferred basketball (38.3%) and football (25.2%) and wanted to learn more about basketball (19.8%), football (12.9%) and soccer (11.9% ). Eighth grade boys (n=26) preferred basketball (19.8%) and football (12.9%) and wanted to learn basketball (21.7%), football (17.4%) and baseball (13.0%). Seventh grade males (n=45) preferred jogging (44.4%), basketball (28.9%) and football (15.6%) and wanted to learn basketball (20%), baseball (12.5%), soccer (17.5%), tennis (10.0%) and swimming (10.0%). Sixth grade boys (n=42) preferred basketball (32%) and football (28%) and wanted to learn basketball (21.7%), football (17.4%) and baseball (13.0%). Girls (n=106) were 12.57 (SD = 1.05) years old and overall preferred basketball (28.3%), jogging (23.2%) and dancing 12.1%, and wanted to learn about basketball (29.3%) tennis (15.2%) and soccer (13.0%). Eighth grade girls (n=28) preferred basketball (33.3%), jogging (29.6%) and dancing (11.1%) and wanted to learn baseball (30.4%) and soccer (13.0%). Seventh grade girls (n=30) preferred dancing (17.9%), jogging (17.9%), swimming (17.9%) and basketball (14.3%) and wanted to learn about baseball (36%), soccer (16%), swimming (12%) and tennis (12%). Sixth grade girls (n=47) preferred basketball (34.9%) and jogging (23.3%) and wanted to learn about basketball (25.6%), tennis (20.9%) and soccer (11.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to population team sports, participants in this study indicated interests in individual and dual sports and fitness activities. Understanding preferences and interests is crucial to the development of population specific programs aimed at promoting current and lifelong physical activity participation.