Associations between physical education cognition and physical fitness index in adolescents aged 13–18: a pathway-based cross-sectional study

Résumé fourni par la source

Adolescent physical fitness has declined globally, yet the cognitive and psychological mechanisms associated with physical fitness remain insufficiently understood. This study examined the associations between physical education cognition and Physical Fitness Index (PFI), with particular attention to the potential intervening pathways of sports attitude and self-perceived motor skill repertoire. A cross-sectional design was employed using data from the 2020 Macao Citizen Physical Fitness Monitoring Project. A total of 2303 adolescents aged 13–18 years were included. Physical education cognition, sports attitude, and self-perceived motor skill repertoire were assessed via standardized questionnaires, and PFI was derived from multiple physical fitness indicators using Z-score standardization. Correlation, regression, and pathway-based association analyses (PROCESS Model 6 with 5000 bootstrap samples) were conducted. All analyses were interpreted as statistical associations rather than causal effects. Physical education cognition, sports attitude, self-perceived motor skill repertoire, and PFI were significantly and positively associated. Pathway analysis indicated that the statistical linkage between physical education cognition and PFI was primarily manifested as indirect pathway associations. Among these, sports attitude represented the most substantial pathway, while self-perceived motor skill repertoire exhibited additional parallel and sequential co-variations. The combined indirect pathway associations co-existed with a smaller direct association pattern. Physical education cognition was positively associated with adolescents’ physical fitness, with this statistical association being largely accounted for by indirect pathway associations involving sports attitude and perceived motor skill breadth. These findings highlight the importance of psychological and experiential factors in understanding fitness-related outcomes. Given the cross-sectional design, the results should be interpreted as associative rather than causal. Future longitudinal and intervention-based studies are warranted.

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