Xiaofen D. Hamilton

We examined gender and grade differences in the relationship between students’ perceived competence, their enjoyment of physical education (PE), and their PA persistence on the frequency of their physical activity (PA). We also used structural equation modeling to assess the direct, indirect, and total effects of perceived competence and PE enjoyment on PA frequency through the mediator of PA persistence. Participants were 223 middle school students (115 boys, 108 girls) in grades 7 and 8. We found that, regardless of grade level, girls had lower perceived competence and PE enjoyment than boys. Both perceived competence and PE enjoyment had significant direct and positive connections to persistence, but they had no significant indirect effects on PA frequency through the mediator of persistence. These findings highlight the need for physical educators to be aware of gender differences in perceived competence and PE enjoyment, and the important roles these factors have in enhancing students’ PA participation.

Purpose : This study aimed to examine how physical education teacher education (PETE) programs prepare preservice physical education teachers (PPETs) for implementing health-related fitness testing (HRFT) in K–12 schools from a faculty perspective. Methods : The study applied a phenomenological approach. Seven PETE faculty participated in this study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, online surveys, and course documents. Constant content analysis was performed to generate themes. Results : The study discovered four themes: (a) required courses are the primary means for preparing PPETs to use HRFT, (b) cooperating teachers can negatively influence the faculty’s role in HRFT preparation, (c) PPETs explored the use of HRFT in PETE programs through peer teaching and testing activities, and (d) there was a lack of field-based experiences in local schools for HRFT preparation. Conclusion : PETE programs provided some courses to prepare PPETs for the HRFT implementation with the lack of time and field experience.