Online Program

330140
Association between State Physical Education Laws and Student Physical Activity


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 11:30 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.

Ce Shang, PhD, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Jamie F. Chriqui, PhD, MHS, Institute for Health Research and Policy and Division of Health Policy & Administration, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Erin Hennessy, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Support to Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Frank M. Perna, EdD, PhD, Division of Cancer Control & Population Sciences/ Health Behaviors Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

Introduction. This study examined the association between state physical education (PE) requirements and the physical activity (PA) of high school students.

 

Methods. Scores for state PE laws for 2005-2013 were drawn from the Classification of Laws Associated with School Students (C.L.A.S.S.) and categorized as strong, weak, or none. C.L.A.S.S. scores were linked with state geocodes to the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data, and their association with PA was estimated using multinomial logistic regressions while controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and state confounders.

Results. Preliminary findings suggest that a strong PE law, as compared to weak or no laws, was associated with more PA in the past 7 days. Specifically, a strong PE law was associated with increased probabilities of attending PE classes for 1-4 days (102% increase, p≤0.01), being physically active for ≥ 60 minutes for 1-6 days (3% increase,  p≤0.1), exercising for ≥ 20 minutes that made them sweat for 1-6 days (4% increase, p≤0.05)  or daily (8% increase, p≤0.1), and participating in PA that did not make them sweat for ≥ 30 minutes daily (14% increase, p≤0.05). Additionally, these impacts were greater for female than for male students.

Conclusions.  Preliminary results show that a strong state PE law significantly increased overall PA among high schools students, particularly through PE and light PA, and that this impact was greater for female than for male students. These findings will inform policy makers about the effectiveness of a strong PE law in increasing PA and related public health benefits.   

 

Learning Areas:

Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
assess the association between state physical education (PE) laws and physical activity (PA) among high schools students.

Keyword(s): Physical Activity, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: My research focusing on policy impact on health outcomes and behaviors has been funded by the FDA, NCI, and others. I have published multiple scientific articles that analyzed policy impact on health or risky behaviors such as tobacco use.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.