TITLE:
Exploring Influences of Sport Experiences on Social Skills in Physical Education Classes in College Students
AUTHORS:
Jiandong Ding, Yoshio Sugiyama
KEYWORDS:
Sport Experiences, College Students, Nonverbal Skills, Verbal Skills, Physical Education Classes, Development
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Physical Education,
Vol.7 No.3,
July
18,
2017
ABSTRACT: This study investigated the influences of sport experiences on
social skills among Chinese college students in physical education (PE)
classes. First, we tested the reliability and validity of the Chinese version
of the Experience Scale in University Physical Education Classes (ESUPEC) for
examining Chinese college students’ sport experiences in PE classes. Students (n =
366, 194 males, 172 females, mean age = 18.6 years) from two universities in
China completed a survey using the Chinese version of ESUPEC. Results of factor
analyses and reliability analyses indicated that the structure of the scale was
consistent with the original version of ESUPEC, and the reliability and
validity of the scale werereasonable well. Then, we administered the Chinese version of ESUPEC
and the 11 item of Social Skills Inventory (11-SSI) to 302 freshmen (157 males,
145 females) to examine their sport experiences and social skills in PE
classes. Results of correlation analysis and regression analysis revealed that
male students’ sport experiences that involved challenge and female students’
sport experiences that involved self-disclosure had a positive influence on
their nonverbal skills; female students’sport experiences that involved enjoyment had a positive influence
on their verbal skills. The study contributes to literature on exploring how
college students’ social skills can be developed through learning in PE. The
work of the study made a step to provide educators with methods for effective
development and efficient implementation of models and programs in PE classes.