AUTHOR=Long Bin , Liu Yang , Chen Senlin , Yang Yiwu , Tang Suna , Yang Jimei , Wang Yuhuai 

TITLE=Fitness promotion in college: the relationships among students’ perceived physical literacy, knowledge, and physical fitness

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1305121

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1305121

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Purpose</title><p>The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among perceived physical literacy (PPL), knowledge of physical activity and fitness (PAF knowledge), and physical fitness.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>Undergraduates (<italic>N</italic> = 968, female = 414; <italic>M</italic><sub>age</sub> = 18.64) from a public university in central China completed a simplified Chinese version of the PPL instrument, an online test for PAF knowledge, and seven health-related physical fitness tests. The PPL includes three dimensions: (a) <italic>confidence and physical competence</italic>, (b) <italic>motivation</italic>, and (c) <italic>interaction with the environment</italic>. The fitness tests measured lung capacity, body mass index (BMI), and performances in 800 (female)/1000 (male) meters run, 50 meters dash (50 M), sit-up (female) / pull-up (male), standing long jump (SLJ), and sit-and-reach.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>PPL and its dimensions significantly predicted six fitness test performances both in male (<italic>β</italic>: −0.42 – 0.37; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01–0.05; <italic>R</italic><sup>2</sup>: 0.01–0.13) and female (<italic>β</italic>: −0.59 – 0.49; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01–0.05; <italic>R</italic><sup>2</sup>: 0.03–0.13) students. PAF knowledge (<italic>β</italic>: −0.17 – 0.18; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01–0.05; <italic>R</italic><sup>2</sup>: 0.01–0.05) significantly predicted BMI (males) and performances in 50 M (females) and SLJ (females) tests.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>To support college students’ fitness development and maintenance, tailored physical activity and fitness promotion programs are needed to strengthen students’ PPL and PAF knowledge.</p></sec>