Examining Relationships between the Cognitive Aspect of College Students’ Attitudes toward Physical Education and Their Social Skills in Physical Education Classes

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationships between the cognitive aspect of college students’ attitudes toward physical education (PE) and their social skills in PE classes. A sample of 573 first-year students (269 male and 304 female, mean age = 17.6 years) in China was investigated in terms of their social behaviors in current PE classes and evaluations of their high school PE. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationships between the two variables. Results of correlation analyses indicated a significant connection between total attitudes and nonverbal skills in all students. Results of multiple regression analyses revealed that three aspects of attitude that toward self-actualization and social development, PE teacher, and PE teaching were related to nonverbal skills in both male and female students. This study explored variable factors of PE that contributed to students’ social development and provided implications according to those factors in PE.