e-Pedagogium 2013, 13(2):125-136 | DOI: 10.5507/epd.2013.024

The potential of organized physical activity/physical education for active lifestyle

Michal Kudláček

Mgr. Michal Kudláček, Ph.D., Department of Recreology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University, Olomouc, tř. Míru 115, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic, E-mail: michal.kudlacek@upol.cz

We have to view the structure of sport preferences as a complex process reflecting the interactions between situational factors (socio-economic characteristics), motivational factors (reasons for taking part in sport activity) and needs, which are fulfilled through the realization of a particular activity.
The main objective of this survey was to analyze the structure of sport preferences and the level of physical activity (PA) of adolescents in relation with organized PA/physical education (PE).
The character of our research was online - an internet-based research. We used two questionnaires: 1. online version of the sport preferences questionnaire, 2. online version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Both of them are accessible in the INDARES.COM project (www.indares.com).
The survey proved its importance in the adequate choice of offered physical activity programs for children of the junior and senior school age with the potential to create conditions and environment for healthy and active lifestyle.
The realization of the online survey approved to be a useful research technique, and if we are able to improve the current system and make it more attractive it has the potential to be really a beneficial research tool.

Keywords: High school, physical activity, adolescence, health, sport preferences, online survey. Introduction The importance of the healthy lifestyle topic is possible to declare by the increasing number of surveys and research projects solving this topic. This topic is dealt with not only in the area of kinanthropology (kinesiology) but also in other areas of scientific efforts, e. g. public health, hygienic, pedagogical or epidemiological areas. According to the kinesiology authors, lifestyle is one of the most important factors having a huge impact on people's health. In addition, there have been changes in the lifestyle of children and youth (Andresen et al., 1999; Biddle et al., 2009; Dunn et al., 1999; Laujunen et al., 2009; U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000). This change is obvious also among leisure-time activities. An inadequate amount of physical activity has a negative impact on the health status and is one of the biggest risks in relation to mortality. We have to view the structure of sport preferences as a complex process reflecting the interactions between situational factors (socio-economic characteristics), motivational factors (reasons for taking part on sport activity) and needs, which are fulfilled through the realization of a particular activity. Previously conducted surveys in the field of sport preferences concludes visible dynamic in the development of the structure of sport preferences (Frömel, Novosad and Svozil, 1999; Kudláček, 2008; Kudláček and Frömel, 2012; Rychtecký, 2006). There is insufficient evidence from the previous studies dealing with the structure of sport preferences referring to the interconnection between individual factors (socio-economic status, organized/structured physical activity, location, etc.), although these factors can considerably influence the total level of physical activity as well as the structure of sport preferences. There is no separate factor explaining the heterogeneity of the structure of sport preferences (and not only sport preferences) across the population. The acquired data give us an approximate prognosis of demanded activities on the national, regional and also local level. These data can also serve as an audit tool of the usage of existing available sources of physical activity, facilities and programs. This information can form the basis for the development of new facilities or for the innovation of the existing facilities

Published: April 1, 2013  Show citation