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Young today-adult tomorrow! Studies on physical status, physical activity, attitudes, and self-perception in children and adolescents

Sollerhed, Ann-Christin LU (2006) In Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
Abstract
The aim was to gain knowledge of young people's physical status and physical activity, and to further the understanding of the role of school physical education in a salutogenic public health perspective. Two studies were performed in southern Sweden. Study 1 was performed in 1996 among 301 adolescents aged 16-19 in upper secondary school. It comprised three parts: a questionnaire, seven physical tests, anthropometrical measures and information on every student's grades. Study 2, with a longitudinal design and annual measurements, was performed in 2000-2003 (n=205- 275) among children aged 6-12 in two primary schools, one intervention school with expanded physical education lessons, and one norm school which followed the stipulated... (More)
The aim was to gain knowledge of young people's physical status and physical activity, and to further the understanding of the role of school physical education in a salutogenic public health perspective. Two studies were performed in southern Sweden. Study 1 was performed in 1996 among 301 adolescents aged 16-19 in upper secondary school. It comprised three parts: a questionnaire, seven physical tests, anthropometrical measures and information on every student's grades. Study 2, with a longitudinal design and annual measurements, was performed in 2000-2003 (n=205- 275) among children aged 6-12 in two primary schools, one intervention school with expanded physical education lessons, and one norm school which followed the stipulated curricular time. The study comprised a questionnaire, eleven physical tests and anthropometrical measures. In Study 1, students in practical education for occupations such as industrial and building workers, mechanics, assistant nurses and hairdressers, all of which are occupations involving physical effort, had lower physical capacity than students in theoretical education among both boys and girls. A correlation was found between physical capacity and grades. An interrelation between Sense of Coherence (SOC) and attitudes to physical education was found, indicating that past experiences of physical activity and physical education could contribute to the development of SOC, and actual levels of SOC could influence the persistent attitudes to physical education and be important for lifelong physical activity. Study 2 showed high self perceived competence in physical education among children to be associated with high physical performance, male gender, low age, living with both parents, high self perceived physical fitness and enjoying physical education. Children who followed an expanded physical education programme during the three-year follow up showed positive changes in physical performance compared to children in the norm school. The number of children with increasing body mass index (BMI) rose in both schools, but a lower increase in BMI could be seen in the intervention school. In both Study 1 and 2, the highest physical capacity was found among children and adolescents who reported a high level of physical activity in leisure time.



This thesis shows it is possible to achieve improvement in physical status among young people with an increase of physical education lessons in school. Differences in physical capacity between prospective blue-collar and white-collar workers already in adolescence during education emphasize the need for early interventions to increase physical activity and capacity in young people. Physical education in the school setting could be seen as an important arena for improving physical capacity, positive self-perceptions and positive attitudes to physical activity, which could be important for public health. (Less)
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author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Engström, Lars-Magnus, Stockholm University, GIH Stockholm
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
physical education, physical status, physical capacity, self-perception, attitudes, sense of coherence, Medicine (human and vertebrates), intervention, physical activity, adolescents, Young people, children, Medicin (människa och djur)
in
Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
pages
127 pages
publisher
Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University
defense location
Aulan, Medicinskt Forskningscentrum, ingång 59, Universitetssjukhuset MAS, Malmö
defense date
2006-05-05 13:15:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
91-85481-76-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
A-C Sollerhed and G. Ejlertsson. 1999. Low physical capacity among adolescents in practical education. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, pp 249-256.
A-C Sollerhed, G. Ejlertsson and E. Apitzsch. 2005. Predictors of strong sense of coherence and positive attitudes to physical education. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, pp 334-342.
A-C Sollerhed, E. Apitzsch, L. Råstam and G. Ejlertsson. 2006. Factors associated with young children's self-perceived physical competence and self-reported physical activity. (submitted)
A-C Sollerhed and G. Ejlertsson. 2006. Benefits of expanded physical education in primary school: findings from a three-year intervention study in Sweden. (submitted)
id
a599f9c1-9dbc-4c74-bfaf-fbde80655ec9 (old id 546598)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:21:41
date last changed
2019-05-21 21:50:04
@phdthesis{a599f9c1-9dbc-4c74-bfaf-fbde80655ec9,
  abstract     = {{The aim was to gain knowledge of young people's physical status and physical activity, and to further the understanding of the role of school physical education in a salutogenic public health perspective. Two studies were performed in southern Sweden. Study 1 was performed in 1996 among 301 adolescents aged 16-19 in upper secondary school. It comprised three parts: a questionnaire, seven physical tests, anthropometrical measures and information on every student's grades. Study 2, with a longitudinal design and annual measurements, was performed in 2000-2003 (n=205- 275) among children aged 6-12 in two primary schools, one intervention school with expanded physical education lessons, and one norm school which followed the stipulated curricular time. The study comprised a questionnaire, eleven physical tests and anthropometrical measures. In Study 1, students in practical education for occupations such as industrial and building workers, mechanics, assistant nurses and hairdressers, all of which are occupations involving physical effort, had lower physical capacity than students in theoretical education among both boys and girls. A correlation was found between physical capacity and grades. An interrelation between Sense of Coherence (SOC) and attitudes to physical education was found, indicating that past experiences of physical activity and physical education could contribute to the development of SOC, and actual levels of SOC could influence the persistent attitudes to physical education and be important for lifelong physical activity. Study 2 showed high self perceived competence in physical education among children to be associated with high physical performance, male gender, low age, living with both parents, high self perceived physical fitness and enjoying physical education. Children who followed an expanded physical education programme during the three-year follow up showed positive changes in physical performance compared to children in the norm school. The number of children with increasing body mass index (BMI) rose in both schools, but a lower increase in BMI could be seen in the intervention school. In both Study 1 and 2, the highest physical capacity was found among children and adolescents who reported a high level of physical activity in leisure time.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
This thesis shows it is possible to achieve improvement in physical status among young people with an increase of physical education lessons in school. Differences in physical capacity between prospective blue-collar and white-collar workers already in adolescence during education emphasize the need for early interventions to increase physical activity and capacity in young people. Physical education in the school setting could be seen as an important arena for improving physical capacity, positive self-perceptions and positive attitudes to physical activity, which could be important for public health.}},
  author       = {{Sollerhed, Ann-Christin}},
  isbn         = {{91-85481-76-9}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  keywords     = {{physical education; physical status; physical capacity; self-perception; attitudes; sense of coherence; Medicine (human and vertebrates); intervention; physical activity; adolescents; Young people; children; Medicin (människa och djur)}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
  title        = {{Young today-adult tomorrow! Studies on physical status, physical activity, attitudes, and self-perception in children and adolescents}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4375720/546604.pdf}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}