Health-Related Fitness Knowledge of Middle School Students in Public and Private Schools

Th e purpose of this study is to examine public and private middle school students’ levels of Health-Related Fitness Knowledge (HRFK) according to school type, gender, and grade. A cross-sectional survey method was applied in the research. A total of 334 public middle school students (nfemale =154 and nmale = 180) and 386 private middle school students (nfemale =187 and nmale = 199) participated in the survey. Th e data collection instrument was developed by Hunuk and Ince (2010) based on the “Superkids-Superfi t Knowledge” study (Mott, Virgilio, Warren and Berenson, 1991). Th e data collected was analysed using the following descriptive and non-parametric tests: the Pearson chi-square, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Kruskal- Wallis H-test. Findings indicated a signifi cant diff erence according to school type and age group (p .05), but a non-signifi cant diff erence according to gender and HRFK test result. Results improved year to year except among 7th graders. In other words, private middle school students’ HRFK results were higher than those of public middle school students; grade level was also linked to HRFK, but gender was not. Th ese results suggest that physical education curriculums should be developed with reference to HRFK objectives. Another recommendation would be that HRFK tools be customized by grade level in the Turkish context