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Table 2 Comparison of PE class characteristics between PE classes with MVPA< 50% and MVPA≥50%

From: Physical education environment and student physical activity levels in low-income communities

 

Elementary school

Middle school

High school

MVPA

< 50%

MVPA

≥ 50%

 

MVPA

< 50%

MVPA

≥ 50%

 

MVPA

< 50%

MVPA

≥ 50%

 

n (%)

n (%)

p

n (%)

n (%)

p

n (%)

n (%)

p

PE class

792 (57)

594 (43)

 

165 (65)

90 (35)

 

166 (39)

256 (61)

 

Gradea

  

0.12

  

0.06

  

NA

Lowest

222 (54)

190 (46)

 

47 (72)

18 (28)

 

NA

NA

 

Middle

318 (60)

208 (40)

 

75 (68)

36 (32)

 

NA

NA

 

Highest

252 (56)

196 (44)

 

43 (54)

36 (46)

 

NA

NA

 

Lesson location

  

< 0.01

  

< 0.01

  

0.88

Outdoor

42 (25)

123 (75)

 

18 (38)

30 (62)

 

15 (41)

22 (59)

 

Indoor

750 (61)

471 (39)

 

147 (71)

60 (29)

 

151 (39)

234 (61)

 
 

M ± SD

M ± SD

p

M ± SD

M ± SD

p

M ± SD

M ± SD

p

Male students observed, n

2.0 ± 0.8

2.1 ± 0.8

0.23

2.2 ± 0.9

2.1 ± 0.9

0.58

2.1 ± 0.9

2.4 ± 0.9

< 0.05

Class size (# students), n

22 ± 8

22 ± 7

0.65

41 ± 25

55 ± 31

< 0.01

35 ± 15

37 ± 21

0.33

Students per teacher, n

20 ± 6

21 ± 6

0.11

32 ± 17

34 ± 23

0.45

32 ± 12

31 ± 15

0.24

Actual length of PE class, min

31 ± 5

32 ± 5

< 0.01

40 ± 14

42 ± 20

0.35

41 ± 11

41 ± 14

0.85

In-class PA promotion, %

16 ± 17

23 ± 22

< 0.01

6 ± 10

26 ± 22

< 0.01

4 ± 7

13 ± 15

< 0.01

General content, %

36 ± 15

23 ± 10

< 0.01

37 ± 16

23 ± 10

< 0.01

29 ± 15

21 ± 10

< 0.01

Knowledge content, %

17 ± 11

11 ± 9

< 0.01

5 ± 9

8 ± 7

< 0.01

3 ± 6

3 ± 4

0.34

Motor content, %

48 ± 16

66 ± 14

< 0.01

58 ± 17

69 ± 11

< 0.01

69 ± 17

76 ± 12

< 0.01

Fitness, %

19 ± 19

33 ± 21

< 0.01

15 ± 12

36 ± 22

< 0.01

24 ± 24

32 ± 28

< 0.01

Skill practice, %

12 ± 17

9 ± 15

< 0.01

7 ± 16

12 ± 20

< 0.05

5 ± 14

2 ± 11

0.07

Game play, %

12 ± 17

18 ± 18

< 0.01

34 ± 28

16 ± 20

< 0.01

29 ± 29

31 ± 30

0.53

Other, %

5 ± 15

5 ± 17

0.49

3 ± 11

4 ± 16

0.41

10 ± 7

11 ± 8

0.62

  1. M ± SD mean ± standard deviation; MVPA moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity; NA not applicable; PA physical activity; PE physical education
  2. aFor elementary school, the lowest was grades K-1, the middle was grades 2–3 and the highest was ≥grades 4–5. For middle schools, the lowest was grade 6, the middle was grade 7, and the highest was grade 8. Because most high school PE lessons were grade-mixed, MVPA levels by grades was not analyzed for high schools