The predictability of self -reported physical activity, attitudes toward physical activity, and gender on cardiovascular endurance status among sixth -grade Hispanic students

Since the 1960's, there has been much concern expressed about the fitness level of Americans with a large portion of the populace still failing to embrace exercise as a primary component for optimal living and cardiovascular endurance (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996). As a result, there is a growing concern about the current and future health and fitness status of American children (Kunzleman & Reiff, 1992). Little is known about Hispanic children with respect to self-reported physical activity and attitudes toward physical activity. The purpose of this study was to describe the nature of the relation between the self-reported physical activity levels, attitudes toward physical activity, gender, and cardiovascular endurance of sixth-grade Hispanic students.;Participants in this study were 279 Hispanic children who were enrolled in sixth grade physical education classes in a South Texas area intermediate school. The sample included 158 males and 121 females ranging in age from 10 to 12 years of age. The variables examined were: (1) self-reported physical activity, (2) attitudes toward physical activity, (3) gender, and (4) cardiovascular endurance.;These variables were assessed by the use of a modified self-reported physical activity recall survey (self-reported physical activity), the Children's Attitude Toward Physical Activity Scale (attitudes toward physical activity), and the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (cardiovascular endurance).;A major emphasis of the study was to examine the following three models: (1) the nature of the relation between the attitudes toward physical activity, gender, and self-reported physical activity of sixth-grade Hispanic students, (2) the nature of the relation between the self-reported physical activity, gender, and cardiovascular endurance of sixth-grade Hispanic students, and (3) the nature of the relation between the attitudes toward physical activity, gender, and cardiovascular endurance of sixth-grade Hispanic students. Descriptive statistics for the background variables---physical fitness measures, activity level, and attitude factors---were calculated. General linear models analyses were used examine the relation of attitude and gender to activity level, the relation of attitude and gender to cardiovascular endurance, and the relation of physical activity and gender to cardiovascular endurance.;General linear model analyses revealed that: (1) the attitudes toward physical activity domains, gender, and their interaction were not statistically significantly related to the self-reported physical activity level (Kcal·day -1) of the participants; (2) the attitudes toward physical activity, gender, and their interaction were statistically significantly related to the cardiovascular endurance (VO2 max) of the participants with 18.0% variance of VO2 max explained in the model; and (3) the self-reported physical activity level (Kcal·day-1), gender, and their interaction were statistically significantly related to the cardiovascular endurance (VO2 max) of sixth grade Hispanic students with 32.0% variance of VO2 max explained in the model.