SEARCHCROSS-SECTIONALsports medicine, pediatrics

cross-sectional·sports medicine, pediatrics, public health, adolescent medicine, endocrinology·PMC10047493

Analysis of Self-Perceived Physical Fitness of Physical Education Students in Public Schools in Extremadura (Spain)

Children · 5 authors, 4 centres

AI SUMMARY

FIDELITY 88%

POPULATION961 secondary education students (12–18 years) from public schools in Extremadura, Spain (48.8% boys, 51.2% girls; 31.9% rural, 68.1% urban)

INTERVENTIONNone (cross-sectional observational study using the Visual Analogue Fitness Perception Scale for Adolescents [FP VAS A])

COMPARISONSelf-perceived physical fitness scores compared by sex (boys vs. girls) and center location (rural vs. urban)

This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.

AGENT 01 · STRUCTURED SUMMARY

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TL;DR

This cross-sectional study of 961 secondary school students in Extremadura, Spain found that boys reported significantly higher self-perceived physical fitness than girls across all domains except flexibility, where girls scored higher. School location (rural vs. urban) did not significantly influence self-perceived fitness, but higher BMI and older age were associated with lower self-perceived fitness scores. These findings highlight the need for educational interventions targeting girls' physical activity engagement and weight-related fitness perceptions.

Full summary

4,207 CHARS

**Background:** Physical fitness (PF) is a critical health marker in adolescence, associated with cardiovascular health, metabolic risk, and even cognitive performance. While objective field tests exist, self-reported fitness assessments offer a time-efficient alternative for large groups. The Visual Analogue Fitness Perception Scale for Adolescents (FP VAS A) is one such tool. Previous research suggests sex differences in self-perceived PF, with boys generally scoring higher, but evidence on the influence of school location (rural vs. urban) and correlations with age and BMI is limited and sometimes contradictory. This study aimed to analyze self-reported PF in secondary school students and investigate differences by sex and center location, as well as correlations with age and BMI.

**Methods:** A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2022. Using convenience sampling, 961 secondary education students (mean age 14.71 years, SD = 1.58; mean BMI 20.61, SD = 3.36) from public schools in Extremadura, Spain were recruited. The sample was gender-balanced (48.8% boys, 51.2% girls). Schools in towns with <20,000 inhabitants were classified as rural (31.9%), those with >20,000 as urban (68.1%). Participants completed the FP VAS A, a 5-item scale assessing general physical fitness, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, speed-agility, and flexibility on a 1–10 Likert scale. The instrument showed satisfactory reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.77 in this study). Due to non-normal distribution (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test), non-parametric tests were used: Mann-Whitney U for group comparisons, Spearman's Rho for correlations, and Hedges' g for effect sizes.

**Key Results:** Boys scored significantly higher than girls on all FP VAS A items except flexibility: overall physical fitness (boys: M=7.30, SD=1.75; girls: M=6.47, SD=2.07; p<0.001, g=0.431), cardiorespiratory endurance (boys: M=7.32, SD=2.13; girls: M=6.32, SD=2.41; p<0.001, g=0.438), muscular strength (boys: M=7.17, SD=1.81; girls: M=6.05, SD=2.16; p<0.001, g=0.560), and speed-agility (boys: M=7.68, SD=1.93; girls: M=6.30, SD=2.30; p<0.001, g=0.647). Girls scored significantly higher on flexibility (boys: M=5.47, SD=2.43; girls: M=6.35, SD=2.40; p<0.001, g=0.336). The overall FP VAS A score was significantly higher for boys (M=6.98, SD=1.43) than girls (M=6.29, SD=1.69; p<0.001, g=0.438). No statistically significant differences were found by center location on any item, though rural students scored slightly higher on most items. Regarding correlations with age, significant inverse associations were found for cardiorespiratory endurance (ρ=-0.138, p<0.001), movement speed (ρ=-0.076, p=0.009), and muscular strength (ρ=-0.062, p=0.035). BMI showed significant inverse correlations with overall physical fitness (ρ=-0.202, p<0.001), cardiorespiratory endurance (ρ=-0.226, p<0.001), movement speed (ρ=-0.268, p<0.001), and flexibility (ρ=-0.063, p=0.033). The overall FP VAS A score correlated inversely with both age (ρ=-0.092, p=0.002) and BMI (ρ=-0.197, p<0.001).

**Clinical Implications:** The findings confirm significant sex-based disparities in self-perceived PF, with boys consistently rating themselves higher except in flexibility. This aligns with prior research linking self-perception to actual PA levels and physical self-concept. The lack of significant rural-urban differences suggests school location may not be a major determinant of fitness perception in this population. The inverse correlations between BMI and self-perceived PF across multiple domains underscore the potential psychological impact of overweight on adolescents' body image and physical self-esteem. These results support the need for targeted educational interventions—particularly for girls—to promote PA, improve fitness perceptions, and combat sedentary lifestyles. The authors recommend active teaching methodologies, active breaks, and cross-curricular PA integration. Limitations include the cross-sectional design (preventing causal inference), regional specificity to Extremadura, and reliance on self-report. Future research should explore causal pathways and extend to other regions.

PICO

PPOPULATION

961 secondary education students (12–18 years) from public schools in Extremadura, Spain (48.8% boys, 51.2% girls; 31.9% rural, 68.1% urban)

IINTERVENTION

None (cross-sectional observational study using the Visual Analogue Fitness Perception Scale for Adolescents [FP VAS A])

OOUTCOME

Self-perceived physical fitness measured across 5 items (general fitness, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, speed-agility, flexibility) on a 1–10 Likert scale

STUDY TYPE

cross-sectional

SPECIALTY

sports medicine

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

FIDELITY CHECK

88% · B

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10047493

Analysis of Self-Perceived Physical Fitness of Physical Education Students in Public Schools in Extremadura (Spain)

Children

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Adolescence is a stage of crucial physiological and psychological changes within the individual’s life cycle, where fitness work is important. With self-perception being crucial in relation to adolescent health and well-being, a positive perception of fitness is directly related to increased practice or higher level of physical activity (PA). Thus, the aims were: (1) to analyze, with the Visual Analogue Fitness Perception Scale for Adolescents (FP VAS A), the self-perceived physical fitness (PF) of high school students, (2) to investigate if there are differences according to sex and school location, and (3) to study the correlations between the items of the FP VAS A with age and body mass index (BMI). For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was designed with a total of 961 participants, 48.8% boys and 51.2% girls in secondary education, where 31.9% studied in rural schools and 68.1% in urban schools. The FP VAS A scale was used to assess self-reported PF. Regarding the results, there were statistically significant differences between sexes ( p < 0.001), with boys showing higher scores than girls in all the items of the FP VAS A scale, with the exception of global flexibility. Inverse, mean and significant correlations were established between BMI and self-perceived overall PF (r = −0.202; p < 0.001), cardiorespiratory endurance (r = −0.226; p < 0.001) and movement speed (r = −0.268; p < 0.001). Between age and self-perceived cardiorespiratory endurance (r = −0.138; p < 0.001) an inverse, mean and significant correlation was also observed. In conclusion, boys showed a better self-perception of PF than girls for all physical abilities, with the exception of flexibility. School location was not shown to influence students’ self-perceived PF. In addition, most of the self-perceived PF abilities for overall fitness correlated inversely with BMI. Keywords: physical fitness, childhood, physical education, self-perceived physical fitness

CITATION EXPORT

Carmen Galán-Arroyo, David Manuel Mendoza-Muñoz, Jorge Pérez-Gómez et al.. Analysis of Self-Perceived Physical Fitness of Physical Education Students in Public Schools in Extremadura (Spain). Children. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/children10030604

AUTHORS

5 · 4 CENTRES

Carmen Galán-Arroyo, David Manuel Mendoza-Muñoz, Jorge Pérez-Gómez, Claudio Hernández-Mosqueira, Jorge Rojo-Ramos

1Physical and Health Literacy and Health-Related Quality of Life (PHYQoL), Faculty of Sport Science, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
2Physical Activity for Education, Performance and Health, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, [email protected] (J.R.-R.)
3Health Economy Motricity and Education (HEME), Faculty of Sport Science, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
4Departamento de Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4780000, Chile