Are Korean secondary school girls physically active during leisure time?
Our aims in this study were to identify the types of physical activity during leisure time and to determine if Korean secondary school girls participate in enough physical activity during leisure time to promote health. Of the 1,088 girls randomly selected by a multistaged cluster sampling technique, 705 girls completed questionnaires. Seventy-five percent of Korean secondary school girls spent time on individualized or noncompetitive activities, and 88.3% of them were classified into underactive and inactive levels with no gained health benefits during leisure time. No significant differences were observed in the physical activity levels between middle school girls and high school girls. The results of this study may be explained by the lack of perceived appropriateness for secondary school girls' participation in physical activity, which traditionally did not favor them participating in dynamic physical activities and sufficient physical activity level to gain health benefits.
Cho
Minhaeng
M
Department of Sports and Leisure, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, Korea. cho6447@hanmail.net
Kwon
Wook-Dong
WD
Jeon
Yong-Bae
YB
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*