Fifth- and Seventh-Grade Girls' Decisions about Participation in Physical Activity

The main purpose of this study was to learn from fifth-grade (N = 51) and seventh-grade (N = 55) girls in 3 schools from 1 district how to improve girls' participation rates in physical activity. The questions addressed through survey research were (1) the degree to which fifth- and seventh-grade girls participate in physical activity and why; (2) girls' knowledge about the benefits of physical activity; and (3) which girls do and do not participate regularly in physical activity. Respondents were also asked to offer recommendations to improve girls' participation rates. Findings indicated that girls participated in physical activity primarily for "fun." Parents who participated in regular physical activity were far more likely to have daughters who also did so. Verbal encouragement alone did not have a strong effect on girls' participation. Finally, girls who did not report participating regularly in physical activity demonstrated much less knowledge about the benefits of physical activity than did regular participants.