CORRELATES OF SCHOOL SPORT PARTICIPATION ON REGULAR AND MILITARY SCHOOLS �?¢�?�?��?�?? THE ROLE OF SEX, AGE, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND ATTITUDES

Abstract

Miguel Peralta1, David Carrilho1, Íris Maurício1, Miguel Lopes1, Sara Costa1, Francisco Carreiro da Costa2, Adilson Marques1

Background: In Portugal, besides physical education classes, schools provide times designated for schools sports (SS), which could increase students’ physical activity levels. Purpose: Analyze the levels of participation in SS on regular and military schools and analyze their correlates, identifying its relationship with sociodemographic and attitudes variables. Method: A questionnaire was applied to 3540 students (1841 boys) from regular (n = 2640) and military (n = 900) Portuguese schools, between grade 5-12. Results: Findings suggest that military school students participated more in SS than regular school students; and attitude toward school was higher in military school students. Type of school, sex, age, and attitude toward physical education were identified as correlates of SS participation for both school types. Conclusion: The type of school and its culture are related to SS participation.