Attitudes Toward Physical Activity Among Hispanic Elementary School Children

Thursday, April 25, 2013
Exhibit Hall Poster Area 2 (Convention Center)
Jose A. Santiago1, Julio Morales2 and Emily A. Roper1, (1)Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, (2)Lamar University, Beaumont, TX

Background/Purpose: Significant documentation has attested to the high rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and type 2 diabetes in Hispanic children and youth (Crespo, 2005). Promoting regular involvement in physical activity is one way to decrease disease and promote health in children. Children's attitudes are considered to be critical factors impacting physical activity engagement (Solmon, 2003). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine attitudes toward physical activity of Hispanic school children.

Method A convenience sample of 176 school age children classified as Hispanic, 83 boys and 93 girls from an urban school located in Southeast Texas participated in this study. Attitudes were assessed by employing the Children's Attitudes Toward Physical Activity (CATPA) inventory for grade 3 (Schutz, Smoll, Carre, & Mosher, 1985). CATPA questions measure children's value and enjoyment of 5 subdomains of physical activity.

Analysis/Results Descriptive statistics revealed that boys scored slightly higher on social growth (M = 4.92; SD = .45), while girls scored slightly higher on social continuation (M = 4.93; SD = .28), health and fitness (M = 4.81; SD = .46), vertigo (M = 3.08; SD = 1.37), and aesthetic (M =4.61; SD = .87). Independent t-test results (t 2,186 = -3.20; p < .01) indicated that significant differences exist between boys and girls on social continuation.

Conclusions Hispanic boys and girls attitudes toward physical activity were both positive and consistent with previous findings. The results suggest that Hispanic girls participate in physical activity to be with friends.