Why do high school boys dodge phys-ed?
By Communications Staff
As obesity and inactivity among youth becomes a
growing concern for North American families, new
research based at The University of Western
Ontario is asking why some high school boys are
reluctant to participate in Grade 9 health and
physical education classes.
And while a majority of the research being
publicly debated links the inactivity to
television viewing and hours logged on the
computer time, Michael Kehler, an associate
professor at Western’s Faculty of Education,
is examining the relationship between
perceived masculinity, body image, and
health.
All high school students are required to
take at least one course in health and
physical education. Most boys choose to take
the mandatory course in Grade 9. Others
postpone the ‘Phys Ed’ requirement until a
later year when the topic is related to
health issues and does not include
activities in the gymnasium or on the
playing field.
With the support and approval of the Thames
Valley District School Board (London,
Ontario and the surrounding counties of
Oxford, Elgin and Middlesex), Kehler is
speaking to young men from across the region
to better understand the degree body image
in adolescent boys is a factor contributing
to whether or not they continue pursuing
physical activity.
“There appears to be a link between body
image, masculinity, and long-term apathy
toward physical activity and ultimately
one’s quality of life,” Kehler said.
“So much research has been done examining
girls and issues around body image but very
little research has explored the
relationship between boys, health and body
image in secondary schools.
“If a boy is thinner or heavier than he
would like to be, the stress and anxiety of
participating in physical education may be
prohibitive. That anxiety plays out in a
number of ways from disinterest to genuine
fear of being harassed.”
The study, in collaboration with Kevin
Wamsley of Western’s Faculty of Health
Sciences and Michael Atkinson of the
University of Loughborough (U.K.), involves
one-on-one interviews, as well as
observations in physical education classes
and weblogging.
“Often boys who don’t feel at ease are
terrified to go to the locker room or class,
fearing they will be mocked for their size,
their lack of athletic prowess, or that they
will fall victim to homophobia.”
For more information or to participate in
the study, please contact Michael Kehler at
519-661-2111, ext. 88564 or via email at
mkehler@uwo.ca.
