The Nexus between individual interest and school engagement in bolstering Physical Culture for a habitual healthy régime: a case of a state university

Background and Study Aim. A worldwide consensus exists that students' levels of interest strongly predict and trigger their engagement in various activities, particularly those that promote physical culture. Academic works in the field of Physical Education have demonstrated that students can be extremely engaged when they are exposed to situations that pique their interest. However, the relationship and influence of students’ individual interests on their engagement in school have not yet been documented further. Hence, conducting an investigation should be performed. Materials and Methods. The current research endeavors to identify any discernible gender differences in students' individual interests and school engagement levels. In addition, the initiative intends to use an analysis of the relationship between individual interest and school engagement as a foundation for promoting a healthy and active campus community. Undergraduate students in their 1st- and 2nd-year who are enrolled in Physical Education 1 and Physical Education 3 courses during the 1st Semester of the Academic year 2022-2023 are the participants in the study. Participants were selected via Purposive and Convenience Sampling Techniques. The data for this study was collected through a Google forms-based online survey. Additionally, the published English version of the Students’ Individual Interest in Physical Education questionnaire and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale for Students (UWES-9S) were adopted to gather data from the respondents. In order to examine the difference between individual interest and school engagement according to gender, Independent Samples T-Test was performed. Spearman Rho’s and Multiple Regression Analysis examined the relationship between the two variables. Results. After obtaining data from 1072 university students [(Nmale = 456(42.5%), Nfemale = 616(57.5%)], it was found that no significant variance was observed concerning individual interest and school engagement based on gender. Additionally, a positive and significant association was observed between individual interest and school engagement. Lastly, it was also found that individual interest, alongside its three factors, predicts school engagement. Conclusions. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that students’ individual interests have a direct and beneficial influence on their level of school engagement. This investigation was conducted to fully communicate physical culture to students in order to improve their overall well-being. Based on the findings, recommendations for the future research direction and physical education teachers have been produced as a result of this investigation.