Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Toward Physical Literacy Among the College Students During COVID-19 School Closure

Cheng Ma; Minnan Yue; Xiaoling Zhu

doi:10.2147/JMDH.S449880

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Toward Physical Literacy Among the College Students During COVID-19 School Closure

J Multidiscip Healthc. 2024 Apr 15:17:1629-1640. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S449880. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Cheng Ma¹, Minnan Yue², Xiaoling Zhu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Education, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, People's Republic of China.
² School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for science and technology, Shanghai, 200093, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among college students toward physical literacy during COVID-19 school closure.

Patients and methods: This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between December 9th, 2022 and December 24th, 2022 among college students during COVID-19 school closure. A self-designed questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information of the college students, and assess their KAP toward physical literacy.

Results: A total of 969 students were recruited, with mean age of 18.73±0.97 years. The majority were male (54.70%), urban residents (78.02%), majoring in engineering (58.00%), and having exercise habits (61.09%). The mean KAP scores were 6.57±0.95, 32.63±4.07, and 27.06±7.23, respectively. Positive associations were identified between knowledge and attitude (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.52-2.66, P < 0.001), and between attitude and practice (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.12-1.22, P < 0.001). A bachelor's degree and being in the sophomore year were positively associated with knowledge (OR = 1.51-4.05, all P < 0.05). Urban residence and being in the sophomore year were negatively associated with attitude (OR = 0.43-0.59, all P < 0.05), while having daily exercise habits showed the opposite trend (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.33-2.57, P < 0.001). Father's education level of high school and technical secondary school (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37-0.93, P = 0.023) and having daily exercise habits (OR = 3.88, 95% CI: 2.72-5.55, P < 0.001) were associated with practice.

Conclusion: College students had sufficient knowledge, moderate attitudes and negative practices towards physical literacy during COVID-19 school closure. The findings hold significant potential for developing educational programs, fostering healthier lifestyles and promoting mental well-being among college students during public health outbreaks.

Keywords: attitude; cross-sectional study; knowledge; physical literacy; practice.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(Grant: C2021325). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.