Examination of the relationship between middle school students' interest and aptitude towards physical education classes and their participation in school sports competitions

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between middle school students' interest in and aptitude towards physical education classes and their participation in school sports competitions. The research the relational screening model of quantitative research methods was employed, a quantitative research method commonly employed in educational research. The population for this study comprised middle school students who either participated or did not participate in school sports competitions, while the sample size consisted of 1299 students selected through a simple random sampling method, ensuring a representative sample. The participants voluntarily took part in the research. Data collection was conducted using research forms structured into three sections. The first section of the form focused on gathering demographic information about the middle school students, while the second section included scales adapted for the study's purposes. These scales were the Physical Education Aptitude Scale, adapted into Turkish by Öncü, Gürbüz, Küçük-Kılıç, and Keskin (2015), and the Physical Education and Sports Interest Scale developed by Uğraş and Temel (2020). These scales were designed to assess the students' aptitudes and interests towards physical education classes. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 22 statistical software package. Various statistical methods were employed, including t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The analyses aimed to explore the relationship between students' participation in school sports competitions, their interest in and aptitude towards physical education classes, and other relevant factors. The results of the study revealed that both participating and non-participating middle school students exhibited above-moderate levels of interest and aptitude towards physical education classes. Additionally, it was observed that male students tended to have higher levels of aptitude and interest compared to female students. Furthermore, as students' age and grade level decreased, their interest and aptitude towards physical education classes also decreased. Factors such as having family members interested in sports, active participation in school sports, and being licensed athletes in sports clubs were associated with higher levels of interest and aptitude. Moreover, students whose parents held higher educational degrees, such as associate, bachelor's, and postgraduate degrees, demonstrated higher self-efficacy. Conversely, students with a shorter history of involvement in sports activities showed lower levels of positive attitudes and self-efficacy towards physical education classes. Overall, the study contributes to our understanding of the complex interplay between students' participation in school sports competitions, their interest in and aptitude towards physical education classes, and various socio-demographic factors. These findings have implications for educators, policymakers, and stakeholders involved in promoting physical activity and student engagement in physical education.