Physical activity and fitness has been recognized as a priority in the document "Healthy People 2000" published by the Public Health Service. Specific objectives applicable to adolescents include increasing the proportion engaging regularly in physical activity and increasing the proportion of school age children and adolescents engaging in daily physical education. While these issues have been the researched as they relate to the overall school-aged population, few studies have focused on children and adolescents with special needs. The purpose of this study was to examine the physical activity behaviors (both organized and leisure) and sedentary habits of adolescents enrolled in special education classes. The data for this study were derived from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Wave 2 (n=456). Sixty-four percent of the subjects were male and 35% were female. The chi-square test (p < .05) and relative risk examined the association between attending special education classes and physical activity-related items. Adolescents enrolled in special education were significantly less likely to report exercising the previous week. While this group was more likely to attend three or more physical education classes each week, they were twice as likely to report less than twenty minutes of activity in these classes as compared with the general student population. T-tests for independent samples indicated significant group differences in hours spent watching television and playing computer games. On the basis of this study, adolescents with special education needs may represent an at-risk population with respect to physical activity related health problems.
Learning Objectives: "At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Recognize the disparity between adolescent in special education classes and the general student population with respect to physical activity. 3. Generate ideas to increase organized and leisure-time activity among special education students and subsequently decrease sedentary behaviors
Keywords: Physical Activity, Adolescent Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.