The effect of physical education and sports class hours on academic achievement: The mediating role of attitudes towards physical education and sports lessons

The aim of the study is to determine the mediating role of attitudes towards physical education and sports lessons in the effect of physical education and sports lesson hours on the academic achievement of secondary school students. In addition, whether different demographic variables make a difference on the level of attitude towards physical education and sports lessons is another of the aim of study. The research group of the study consists of 233 students, 127 males and 106 females, studying at Kalkandere High School and Kalkandere Imam Hatip High School in the Kalkandere district of Rize province in the 2020-2021 academic year. In the study, the personal information form prepared by the researchers and the Physical Education and Sports Attitude Scale developed by Demirhan and Altay (2001) were used. In order to determine the academic success of the participants, the end-of-year grade averages of the students were obtained from the school administrations. According to the findings, a significant difference was found between the level of attitude towards physical education and sports lessons and the variables of school type, gender, whether to do licensed sports, whether to participate in in-school activities, to evaluate their own abilities, to think whether sports affect academic achievement and its effect on academic success. No significant differences were found in terms of grades, opinion on general grades, monthly income and weekly physical education and sports course hour variables. While significant correlations were found between the physical education and sports course hours of the participants and their academic achievements, no relationship was found with their level of attitude towards physical education and sports course. In addition, significant relationships were found between the levels of attitude towards physical education and sports lessons and academic achievement. There was no mediation effect of the attitude levels towards physical education and sports lessons in the effect of physical education and sports lesson hours on academic achievement levels. As a result, although various relationships have been determined between the course hours, academic achievements, and the level of attitudes of the participants towards physical education and sports lessons, it seems there isn't any mediating variable effect.