An analysis of Chinese preservice physical education teachers' attitudes toward school-based fitness testing in physical education settings

Background:For over six decades, in many countries, youth fitness testing has been seen as a critical component of physical education programs. As such, preservice physical education teachers (PPETs) must be trained appropriately for effective youth fitness testing, with careful consideration dedicated to PPETs perceptions, since many purported attitudes to have an effect on behavior (Ajzen 1985. "From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior." InAction control: From cognition to behavior, edited by J. Kuhl, and J. Beckmann. Berlin: Springer-Verlag). Our understanding on PPETs' attitudes toward fitness testing is limited, with no research found on the topic for Chinese PPETs. Purposes:The primary purpose of the current study was to examine the overall attitudes of Chinese PPETs' toward school-based fitness testing. The secondary purpose was to test differences of attitudes in gender and years in college, and interaction between these two independent variables. Method:A total of 1012 PPETs from 11 Chinese universities participated in the study. Participants consisted of 28.3% of freshmen, 37.0% of sophomore, 19.5% of junior, and 15.2% of senior, with an average age of 21.2. Participants were recruited via emails and asked to complete a previously validated 16-item survey in English, measuring PPETs' attitudes toward fitness tests (Keating et al.2008. "Physical Education Teacher Attitudes toward Fitness Tests Scale: Cross-Revalidation and Modification."Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science12 (2): 72. https://doi.org/10.1080/10913670801903969). The survey consisted of two domains (i.e. beliefs of the importance of fitness testing and effects of fitness test implementation with two subdomains: enjoyment of fitness test implementation and enjoyment of using fitness test results). The survey was translated into Chinese for distribution. ANOVA was performed to test overall attitude differences in gender and year in college, while two-way MANOVA was used to examine attitude subdomain differences in gender and year in college. Results:The overall attitudes of Chinese PPETs were slightly positive, and consistent with existing literature. Only significant gender differences in both overall attitudes and the three subdomains were found. It was also found that year in college was not significant, nor was the interaction between gender and year in college. These results may suggest that PETE programs have little effect on improving PPETs' attitudes toward fitness testing. Conclusions:Chinese PPETs' attitudes toward youth fitness testing were only slightly positive. Gender may affect Chinese PPETs' attitudes, while surprisingly PETE programs may not focus on PPETs' attitudes toward fitness testing. Future interventions on improving Chinese PPETs' attitudes toward fitness tests are needed, with specialized interests targeting female candidates during PETE training programs.