ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS THAT AFFECTING STUDENTS PARTICIPATION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: THE CASE OF TILILI SECONDARY SCHOOLS, TILILI TOWN, AWI ZONE, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The primary aim of the present study is to ascertain the factors that affect high school student’s participation in PA, with the intention of providing pertinent information that the High Schools of Tilili Town. Adescriptive research design was utilised and a questionnaire was designed to investigate the views and perceptions of students (n=383) staying at the High Schools of Tilili Town. The Median (M) and Interquartile Range (IQR) was used as a summary statistic. Academic workload and time management (structural constraints) were reported to be constraining students from engaging in physical activities and leading a physically active lifestyle. Females experience interpersonal constraints as a leading cause of nonparticipation in comparison to their male counterparts. They were influenced by friends/partners in their decision to pursue PA activities and did not not find a significant difference in intrapersonal (individual, lack of knowledge, lack of interest) and structural constraints (facilities/services, accessibility/financial, time) between the genders. Physical activity engagement is constrained by time. No majordifferences in the views of respondents when a comparative analysis of the structural constraints. It was evident in the findings that students (nonparticipants) are not aware of the benefits of participating in PA activities. Their main motives for PA participation were for achievement/status, energy release and fun. High Schools students’ motives for participating in sports and PA change as they get older. School management needs to develop a plan for physical activity provision which is open to students scrutiny from its stakeholders. To increase the participation frequencies of students, indigenous games should be introduced and physical activity facilities must be accessible to increase students participation in physical activities