Examining Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youth Attitudes Toward Physical Activity and Physical Education

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 1:45 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Youth Physical Activity, Interventions, and Professional Development (Table 8)

Abstract

The trend of limited physical activity (PA) is disproportionately identified for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) both in the youth and adult populations. The growing number of chronic and preventable diseases may be related to a lack of PA and/or early adoption of PA in life. The Theory of Planned Behavior was used to examine youth attitudes towards PA, PE, and PA intention and behavior between NHPIs and other races. Results suggest that significant differences between groups were not present and that NHPI youth PA attitudes were related to PA intentions and behaviors beyond PE attitudes. This aligns with previous data from the majority of U.S. races, suggesting a significant disconnect between PE experiences and PA choices within culture.

Authors

• Crystal Hafoka, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

• Erin Elizabeth Centeio, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa

• Kelly L. Simonton, University of Wyoming

• A. Kuʻulei Serna, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

• Kevin Mercier, Adelphi University