Attendance in Physical Education classes and associated factors among high school students

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of high school student attendance in Physical Education classes and analyze associated factors. The sample consisted of 2,874 public and private high school students (57.9% women, mean age of 16.5 years; SD = 1.2) from João Pessoa, Paraiba (PB) state in Northeastern Brazil. Attendance in Physical Education classes was measured by the following question: ‘How many Physical Education classes do you attend during a normal week? The associated factors measured were: attitude, self-efficacy, risks and benefits related to physical activity, perceived health, level of physical activity, sedentary behavior and nutritional status. It was observed that 41.9% (95% CI: 40.1-43.7) of the students attended two or more Physical Education classes per week, with a higher incidence in public schools (56.6%, 95%CI: 54.6-58.9) than in their private counterparts (6.6%, 95%CI: 4.9-8.2; p <0.001). Higher attendance in Physical Education classes was identified in the following subgroups: male students and the youngest from both schools, in students from public school that did not work, members of the highest economic class, whose parents had higher schooling levels, and those in the 1st and 2nd year of high school education in private institutions. Attending two or more Physical Education classes per week is positively and significantly associated with a more favorable attitude to engaging in physical activity as well as its level, in both private and public students, in addition to positive health perception in public students. Student attendance in Physical Education classes was low, particularly in private schools. Attending two or more Physical Education classes per week was associated with positive aspects of physical activity and health in the students under study.