Why High School Boys Dodge 'Phys Ed'
April 1, 2008
As obesity and inactivity among youth becomes a growing concern for North
American families, new research based at The University of Western Ontario is
asking why some high school boys are reluctant to participate in Grade 9 health
and physical education classes.
And while a majority of the research being publicly debated links the inactivity
to television viewing and hours logged on the computer time, Michael Kehler, an
associate professor at Western's Faculty of Education, is examining the
relationship between perceived masculinity, body image, and health.
In Ontario, all high school students are required to take at least one course in
health and physical education. Most boys choose to take the mandatory course in
Grade 9. Others postpone the 'Phys Ed' requirement until a later year when the
topic is related to health issues and does not include activities in the
gymnasium or on the playing field.
Kehler is speaking to young men from the London, Ontario region to better
understand the degree body image in adolescent boys is a factor contributing to
whether or not they continue pursuing physical activity.
"There appears to be a link between body image, masculinity, and long-term
apathy toward physical activity and ultimately one's quality of life,"
Kehler said.
"So much research has been done examining girls and issues around body
image but very little research has explored the relationship between boys,
health and body image in secondary schools.
"If a boy is thinner or heavier than he would like to be, the stress and
anxiety of participating in physical education may be prohibitive. That anxiety
plays out in a number of ways from disinterest to genuine fear of being
harassed."
The study, in collaboration with Kevin Wamsley of Western's Faculty of Health
Sciences and Michael Atkinson of the University of Loughborough (U.K.), involves
one-on-one interviews, as well as observations in physical education classes and
weblogging.
"Often boys who don't feel at ease are terrified to go to the locker room
or class, fearing they will be mocked for their size, their lack of athletic
prowess, or that they will fall victim to homophobia."
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Source: Jeff Renaud
University of
Western Ontario
Medical News Today: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
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