A Study On The Exercise Habits Of Middle School Students In China

Based on previous studies, adopting the methods of case study and literature review, this paper argues the essence and characteristics of physical exercise habit. It indicates that the physical exercise habit, which essentially different from the automated physical movement habit, is a lasting steady exercise behavior supported by sports fitness belief. Sports fitness belief is formed by an individual in sports practice, based on the constantly deepened experience of sports fitness cognition, it is the affirmation of and adherence to such a viewpoint as sport promoting physical and mental health. A Sports Fitness Belief Model is a theoretical model used to explain the process of formation of physical exercise habit:sports fitness belief, the power that supports physical exercise habit, which makes an individual maintain his/her concern and sensitivity to his/her own health, enhance his/her health awareness, ultimately stimulate his/her need for physical exercise, so that he/she produces a motive for physical exercise, sticks to his/her physical exercise behaviors without giving up easily.Physical exercise habit have two characteristics:repeatability and volition. correspondingly, the first class measurement index of physical exercise habit consists of physical exercise behavior repeatability and physical exercise behavior volition. The former is composed of frequency, regularity, consistency and stability, all of which make up the second measurement index. While the later is comprised of awareness, purpose, plan, initiative, adaptation and perceptual experience, all of which form the second measurement index.This paper analyzes limitations of the main measurement methods at present, and completes the construction of physical exercise habit scale. The initial scale items and the first draft of a physical exercise habit scale are developed by way of case analysis, questionnaire and interview. And the scale is used to take a random sample and has obtained 368 valid samples. The result of item analysis shows that the popularity of all the items in this scale is moderate and the item distinctions range between good and excellence. The result of exploratory factor analysis is consistent with theoretical hypothesis which suggests that physical exercise habit are composed of physical exercise behavior repeatability and physical exercise behavior volition. The newly compiled physical exercise habit scale is used to take a random sample and has obtained 467 valid samples. The confirmatory factor analysis shows that physical exercise habit is a structure of two dimensions, and the two factors extracted from exploratory factor analysis are reasonable. Test data shows that both the reliability and validity of the newly constructed physical exercise habit scale are relatively satisfactory.With the assistance of observation and interview, the newly completed physical exercise habit scale and physical exercise state questionnaire are used to conduct a thorough and deep investigation on physical exercise habit of middle school students in Hainan province. A total of 857 valid scale data and 801 valid questionnaire data are obtained. According to the results of the survey, the deficiency of physical exercise habit among middle school students in Hainan province is serious. For most students,both the physical exercise behavior and physical exercise habit are very unstable, and physical exercise time at school is seriously insufficient, besides, it’s a widespread phenomenon that the cognition of the physical exercise isn’t accord with the behavior of the physical exercise.With an in-depth analysis of the causes of current physical exercise habit problem among middle school students in Hainan province in terms of traditional culture,social fitness atmosphere,education system,school management,school physical education and family physical education, this paper offers suggestions and countermeasures to solve the current physical exercise habit problems of middle school students. The author believes that efforts from the following four aspects are needed and helpful. Firstly, from the perspective of the government:(1) strengthen management and supervision of school physical education by further enhancing the physical education function of government and education department; (2) greatly improve conditions of campus physical exercise by vigorously promoting the construction of school sports facilities; (3) encourage schools to carry out physical exercise activities actively by promoting the construction of a batch of model schools with advanced sports fitness practice; (4) lay a solid social foundation of physical exercise by pushing forward the national fitness movement. Secondly, from the perspective of schools:(1) take the promotion of students’active involvement in physical exercise as the primary objective,and guide students to establish firm sports fitness belief through their participation in physical activities; (2) create a campus culture in which health comes first by a further enhancement of sports fitness education;(3) explore the establishment of a long-term mechanism of campus safety management by developing a campus security concept of responsibility and mutual trust; (4) broaden extracurricular physical exercise channels by making full use of sports resources outside school; (5) deepen the guide of family physical exercise by linking school and families more closely. Thirdly, from the perspective of families:(1) put physical education in such an important position as the moral and intellectual education, and adopt correct methods to encourage children to do exercises actively;(2) create good exercise conditions for children, and satisfy children’s physical exercise need. Fourthly, from the perspective of students themselves:(1) start with a favorite or simple sports program, and set a convenient schedule for exercises; (2) observe the changes of physical performance and physiological indexes, and experience the positive effects of exercise with concentrated attention; (3) explore a suitable exercise method for oneself, and adjust one’s work-rest schedule; (4) find exercise partners or join an exercise group so as to seek mutual support and bring the fun of exercise; (5) make up one’s mind to stick to exercise and never allow oneself to miss a scheduled exercise.The innovation of this paper covers two aspects:A new concept in the field of physical exercise habit theory-Sports fitness belief is proposed as the core point. Sports fitness belief, which is the affirmation of and adherence to such a viewpoint as sport promoting both physical and mental health, is formed by an individual in sports practice, based on the constantly deepened experience of sports fitness cognition. A new theoretical model-Sports Fitness Belief Model is also constructed, which points out that sports fitness belief is the supporting power for a person to actively take part in physical exercise for a long term, and the belief plays the decisive role for the formation of physical exercise habit. Sports Fitness Belief Model clearly explains the reasons why an ordinary person can participate in physical exercise proactively and insistently,and it can predict the formation and constancy of a person’s physical exercise habit.Sports Fitness Belief Model is the major theoretical contribution to the research.The second innovation is the new research method of physical exercise habit-Physical Exercise Habit Scale. Based on the theoretical framework of Sports Fitness Belief Model,this new scale is crated by strictly following scientific procedures and adopting the research methods of case study and questionnaire.It is developed by the item analysis and the analysis of exploratory & confirmatory factors and the resercher’s personal experience. The test result shows that this scale has both good validity and reliability, and it can be applied as tools to evaluate physical exercise habit.