Participation in Physical Education classes and positive attitudes towards physical activity in adolescents in the Brazilian State of Sergipe, Brazil

Abstract

Participation in Physical Education classes can provide opportunities for adolescents to experience and enjoy a physically active lifestyle. To analyze the association between participation in Physical Education classes and positive attitudes towards physical activity in adolescents. This is a cross-sectional school-based study with sample representative of high-school students of the public network of Sergipe (n= 3.992, 14 - 19 years old). Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. The following attitudes were analyzed: performance of physical activity during leisure time and preference for physically active leisure activities rather than sedentary activities. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze association among variables. Adolescents who reported participating in Physical Education classes were more likely to prefer physically active leisure activities (OR=1,69; 1,45-1,96) and engage in physical activity during leisure time (OR=2,00; 1,72-2,31). The results indicate that participation in Physical Education classes can be an important factor in reducing physical inactivity among adolescents.