AUTHOR=Primo Laura , González-Hernández Juan , Yang Yin , Lopez de Subijana Cristina 

TITLE=How young people’s perceptions of their physical education lessons and social skills varied in terms of sociodemographic features. The case of a rural area of China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Education

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2023.1265793

DOI=10.3389/feduc.2023.1265793

ISSN=2504-284X

ABSTRACT=<p>The aim of this study was to examine whether motivation, support, basic-needs satisfaction, and social skills in physical education lessons differed among Chinese secondary students from rural areas depending on their sociodemographic profiles. Two hundred and seven students enrolled in a camp organized by a non-profit organization in Chengdu province (15.8 ± 0.8 years, 74% female and 26% male) completed validated Chinese versions of the pertinent questionnaires. Appropriate social skills were perceived higher by women that by men (<italic>z</italic> = 2.2; <italic>p</italic> = 0.014; <italic>r</italic> = 0.16). Inappropriate social skills (<italic>z</italic> = 2.9; <italic>p</italic> = 0.021; <italic>r</italic> = 0.22) were perceived higher among those students with lower annual home income (50,000 yuan or less). Perceived autonomy support (<italic>z</italic> = 2.9; <italic>p</italic> = 0.002; <italic>r</italic> = 0.20), basic-needs satisfaction (<italic>z</italic> = 2.9; <italic>p</italic> = 0.002; <italic>r</italic> = 0.20), and physical-education motivation (<italic>z</italic> = 4.2; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001; <italic>r</italic> = 0.30) were higher among students who practiced physical activity or sport outside school. Students who practiced during their physical-education team-sports lessons reported higher motivation for physical education (<italic>z</italic> = 2.9; <italic>p</italic> = 0.002; <italic>r</italic> = 0.20) than those who practiced individual sports. The findings from this study are relevant to practitioners who work with students from these underprivileged rural areas.</p>