This study assessed the influence of state laws governing physical education (PE) on weekly PE class attendance among US high school students.
Design:
Cross-sectional.
Setting:
2003 to 2017 US national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).
Participants:
A total of 533 468 high school students.
Measures:
Data on state laws governing PE came from National Cancer Institute’s Classification of Laws Associated with School Students (CLASS). Eight distinct state PE policies were scored, with higher scores denoting stronger laws.
Analysis:
Individual-level YRBS data were merged with CLASS data based on students’ residential state and survey year. State fixed-effect negative binomial regressions were performed, adjusting for individual-level characteristics and YRBS survey design.
Results:
A 1-score increase in state laws governing PE class time, staffing for PE, joint use agreement for physical activity, assessment of health-related fitness, and PE curriculum was associated with an increase in weekly PE attendance by 0.30, 0.28, 0.22, 0.20, and 0.13 days (P < .001), respectively. In contrast, a 1-score increase in state laws governing moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity time in PE, PE proficiency, and recess time was associated with a reduction in weekly PE attendance by 0.25, 0.15, and 0.09 days (P < .001), respectively. The effects of most state PE policies on PE class attendance were larger among girls than boys.
Conclusion:
State PE policies differentially impacted US high school students’ PE class attendance, with larger effects on female students.
JanssenILeBlancAG. Systematic review of the health benefits of physical activity and fitness in school-aged children and youth. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010;7:40.
2.
BiddleSJAsareM. Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: a review of reviews. Br J Sports Med. 2011;45(11):886–895.
3.
RasberryCNLeeSMRobinL, et al.The association between school-based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance: a systematic review of the literature. Prev Med. 2011;52(suppl 1):S10–S20.
AnR. Diet quality and physical activity in relation to childhood obesity. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2017;29(2):/j/ijamh.2017.29.issue-2/ijamh-2015-0045/ijamh-2015-0045.xml.
9.
DingDLawsonKDKolbe-AlexanderTL, et al.The economic burden of physical inactivity: a global analysis of major non-communicable diseases. Lancet. 2016;388(10051):1311–1324.
10.
LeeIMShiromaEJLobeloF, et al.Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: an analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy. Lancet. 2012;380(9838):219–229.
11.
StoryMKaphingstKMFrenchS. The role of schools in obesity prevention. Future Child. 2006;16(1):109–142.
PateRRDavisMGRobinsonTNStoneEJMcKenzieTLYoungJC. Promoting physical activity in children and youth. Circulation. 2006;114(11):1214–1224.
14.
MarquesASantosDAHillmanCHSardinhaLB. How does academic achievement relate to cardiorespiratory fitness, self-reported physical activity and objectively reported physical activity: a systematic review in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(16):1039.
15.
RaineLBBigganJRBaymCLSalibaBJCohenNJHillmanCH. Adolescent changes in aerobic fitness are related in changes in academic achievement. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2018;30(1):108–114.
McKenzieTLSallisJFProchaskaJJConwayTLMarshallSJRosengardP. Evaluation of a two-year middle-school physical education intervention: M-SPAN. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36(8):1382–1388.
18.
WebberLSCatellierDJLytleLA, et al.Promoting physical activity in middle school girls: trial of activity for adolescent girls. Am J Prev Med. 2008;34(3):173–184.
19.
BrusseauTAHannonJBurnsR. The effect of a comprehensive school physical activity program on physical activity and health-related fitness in children from low-income families. J Phys Act Health. 2016;13(8):888–894.
20.
DobbinsMHussonHDeCorbyKLaRoccaRL. School-based physical activity programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(2):CD007651.
21.
ParrishAMOkelyADStanleyRMRidgersND. The effect of school recess interventions on physical activity: a systematic review. Sports Med. 2013;43(4):287–299.
BurgesonCRWechslerHBrenerNDYoungJCSpainCG. Physical education and activity: results from the School Health Policies and Programs Study 2000. J Sch Health. 2001;71(7):279–293.
26.
SHAPE America. Shape of the Nation Report: A Survey of State Physical Education Requirements. Reston, VA: National Association for Sport and Physical Education; 2016.
27.
PernaFMOhAChriquiJF, et al.The association of state law to physical education time allocation in US public schools. Am J Public Health. 2012;102(8):1594–1599.
28.
SlaterSJNicholsonLChriquiJTurnerLChaloupkaF. The impact of state laws and district policies on physical education and recess practices in a nationally representative sample of US public elementary schools. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012;166(4):311–316.
29.
ChriquiJFEylerACarnoskeCSlaterS. State and district policy influences on district-wide elementary and middle school physical education practices. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2013;19(3 suppl 1):S41–S48.
30.
CawleyJMeyerhoeferCNewhouseD. The impact of state physical education requirements on youth physical activity and overweight. Health Econ. 2007;16(12):1287–1301.
31.
TaberDRChriquiJFPernaFMPowellLMSlaterSJChaloupkaFJ. Association between state physical education (PE) requirements and PE participation, physical activity, and body mass index change. Prev Med. 2013;57(5):629–633.
32.
KimJ. Are physical education-related state policies and schools’ physical education requirement related to children’s physical activity and obesity?J Sch Health. 2012;82(6):268–276.
33.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Methodology of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System - 2013. 2013. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6201.pdf. Accessed January 28, 2019.
34.
National Cancer Institute. Classification of Law Associated with School Students. 2018. https://class.cancer.gov/download.aspx. Accessed January 28, 2019.
National Cancer Institute. Classification of Laws Associated With School Students. 2018. https://class.cancer.gov/download.aspx. Accessed January 28, 2019.
BoyleSEWaltersSJJonesGL. Physical activity among adolescents and barriers to delivering physical education in Cornwall and Lancashire, UK: a qualitative study of heads of PE and heads of schools. BMC Public Health. 2008;8:273.
40.
van SluijsEMcMinnAMGriffinSJ. Effectiveness of interventions to promote physical activity in children and adolescents: systematic review of controlled trials. BMJ. 2007;335(7622):703.
41.
MasseLCChriquiSFIgoeJF, et al.Development of a Physical Education-Related State Policy Classification System (PERSPCS). Am J Prev Med. 2007;33(suppl 4):S264–S276.
42.
ProchaskaJJSallisJFSlymenDJMcKenzieTL. A longitudinal study of children’s enjoyment of physical education. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2001;15(2):170–178.
43.
Yi-PiipariSWattAJaakolaTLiukkonenJNurmiJE. Relationships between physical education students’ motivational profiles, enjoyment, state anxiety, and self-reported physical activity. J Sports Sci Med. 2009;8(3):327–336.
44.
TsangECK. Path analysis on the influence of perceived sport competence by other motivational variables. J Phys Educat Recreat. 2007;13(1):43–53.
45.
WrightKN. Influence of BMI, gender, and Hispanic ethnicity on physical activity in urban children. J Spec Pediatr Nurs. 2011;16(2):90–104.
46.
OdumMOutleyCWMcKyerELJTisoneCAMcWhinneySL. Weight-related barriers for overweight students in an elementary physical education classroom: an exploratory case study with one physical education teacher. Front Public Health. 2017;5:305.
47.
Sanchez-VaznaughEVSánchezBNRosasLGBaekJEgerterS. Physical education policy compliance and children’s physical fitness. Am J Prev Med. 2012;42(5):452–459.
48.
EvensonKRBallardKLeeGAmmermanA. Implementation of a school-based state policy to increase physical activity. J Sch Health. 2009;79(5):231–238, quiz 244-6.
