The Current Situation and Internal Pathway of Physical Literacy among Chinese Elementary School Students

Abstract

Background: Physical literacy(PL) is pivotal in improving sedentary behaviors, enhancing intrinsic motivation for physical activity, and supporting the growth and development of adolescents. The study is to measure the current situation and internal pathway of physical literacy among Chinese elementary school students. Methods: In this study, a questionnaire was developed to measure the PL of elementary school students in China. The results obtained from the questionnaire measurements were used to report on the levels of PL among elementary school students and to explain the internal causal relationships among the various dimensions of PL. Results: The average score for physical literacy among primary school students is 63.46 points. The qualification rates for physical literacy in three academic stages are 76.35%, 73.45%, and 59.17%. As primary school students advance in grades, the qualification rate for physical competency increases. The qualification rates for physical motivation in the three academic stages are 91.03%, 61.30%, and 63.78%, while the qualification rates for physical participation are 14.48%, 9.97%, and 3.95%. The correlation between physical literacy and physical motivation consistently increases across the three grade levels (r=0.529, r=0.596, r=0.674, P<0.01), but correlations with physical competency (r=0.826, r=0.770, r=0.767) and physical participation (r=0.852, r=0.701, r=0.615) continuously decrease. Physical competency serves as the mediating variable in the influence of physical motivation on physical participation, explaining 56.40% of the effect. Conclusion: As grades advance, the overall physical literacy qualification rate experiences a yearly decline. Physical competency explains 56.40% of the effect in the influence of physical motivation on physical participation.