A Study of the Physical Fitness, Perceived Value of Physical Education, and Generic Skills of Secondary School Students

Frank Fu*, Siu Yin Cheung, Bik Chow, Lena Fung, Judy Ng

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Abstract

Recent research findings suggested a gradual decline of physical fitness in Hong Kong school children over the past 10 years despite efforts by the Hong Kong SAR Government to promote the development of sports culture in the territory. Since cardiovascular heart disease (CHD) is the number 2 killer in Hong Kong and Hong Kong children were developing CHD risk factors prematurely, it was highly desirable to design and implement primary prevention programmes for this special population. The present study intended to provide better understanding of the physical fitness (PF), the perceived value of physical education (PV) and the contribution of physical education (PE) in the development of generic skills (GS) of secondary school students in Hong Kong. Subjects were 3,067 students from 26 schools selected by proportional stratification based on the school type and region. They were asked to perform a physical fitness test battery, and respond to two questionnaires on perceived value of PE and contribution of PE on development of generic skills. Results indicated that age was a factor: the younger group (12-14 years) scored better than the older group (15-18 years) in PV and GS. Older female subjects scored the highest in PF and also the lowest in PV, suggesting that they were fit but not because they perceived value of PE. Correlations between the three factors were significant (p<0.05) except in the older male group. The lowest PF score was also found in the younger male group. It was concluded that in order to facilitate the development of sports culture among school children, further studies would be desirable to better understand the phenomena that affect children and adolescents, perception of the value of PE in school and their motives and personal meaning for participation in physical activity.

縱然香港特區政府是努力地推行體育運動文化之發展,近期的研究結果,卻發現在過去十年,香港學童的體適能是逐漸地下降。由於心臟病是香港的第二號殺手,而誘發心臟病的危機因子,在香港的兒童身上提早地出現了,因此,為學童們設計和進行基本的防護計劃,實在是刻不容緩。本研究報吿,旨在提供一些關於香港中學生的體適能表現,對體育課的價值觀,以及體育課對發展一般動作技巧的貢獻。研究的對象來自26所學校,合共3,067名學生,而樣本的抽取,是基於學校的性質、地區,並以分層抽樣的方式進行。學生們需要接受體適能測試,並填寫有關對體育課的價值觀,以及體育課對發展一般動作技巧的貢獻之問卷。研究結果顯示,年齡是一個因素:年齡介乎12歲至14歲(年輕組別)者在對體育課的價值觀方面,以及體育課對發展一般動作技巧的貢獻方面,得分較年齡介乎15歲至16歲(年長組別)者為高。年長組別的女性在體適能測試方面得分最高,在對體育課的價值觀方面得分最低,這指出她們的良好體適能,並非由於她們認同體育課的價值。在體適能表現,對體育課的價值觀,以及體育課對發展一般動作技巧的貢獻,這三方面,除了在年長組別的男性外,相互間都有顯著的相關性。而年輕組別的男性,在體適能測試方面的得分是最低。總括而言,為了推行體育運動文化在學校適當地發展,對什麼現象影響兒童和成年人對體育課的價值觀,以及他們參與體育活動的動機和個人意義,都必須加以深入研究和了解。
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7-13
Number of pages7
JournalAsian Journal of Physical Education and Recreation
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2005

User-Defined Keywords

  • Active lifestyle
  • Quality life
  • Motivation
  • School children

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