ASSESSING GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARDS PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND ITS IMPACT ON HEALTH OUTCOMES AMONG COLLEGE OF EDUCATION SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

This study investigates the attitudes of male and female students towards physical
education and assesses the impact of these attitudes on their health outcomes at the
Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka. It examined gender differences in
attitudes towards PE; and analyzed its correlation on health outcomes of the
respondents. Guided by four research questions, the study utilized a cross-sectional
research design involving 180 participants selected through stratified random sampling
from a population of 280 students. A structured questionnaire with validated and reliable
items o

tested with t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient respectively. The findings revealed
significant differences in attitudes between genders, with female students exhibiting more
positive attitudes towards physical education compared to male students.
Additionally, a strong positive correlation (0.675) was identified between favorable
attitudes towards physical education and improved self-reported health outcomes. The
study concluded that fostering positive perceptions of physical education is essential for
’ -being. Major recommendations include
implementing gender-responsive physical education programs, enhancing access to
sports facilities, and promoting family engagement in physical activities. Overall,
addressing these barriers and promoting positive attitudes can lead to significant improvement in student' participation in physical activities