Differences in Exercise Identity between Secondary Physical Education Students and Athletes

Overview & Synopsis

Texas (USA) public schools require high school students to take one year of physical education to graduate. However, students can meet this requirement by participating on a state sanctioned athletic team for a year. The Texas Education Agency states the physical education curriculum should teach affective attitudes and values that will encourage students to be "physically active and healthy for a lifetime" (TEA, 2010). Only physical education students are exposed to this curriculum that specifically incorporates instruction and knowledge related to physical education and fitness concepts. The purpose of the study was to determine if significant differences existed between physical education students and students who chose to participate in sports regarding exercise identity. Data were collected from 207 students with 151 in the physical education group and 56 athletes with the Exercise Identity Scale (EIS) (Anderson & Cychosz, 1994). Scores on the EIS range from 9 to 63. Higher scores indicate greater exercise identity. The physical education group had an average EIS score of 32.9 and athletes had an average score of 45.4. T-test analysis determined athletes had significantly higher exercise identities than physical education students at the p less than 0.000 level. (Contains 1 table.)