Gender-Based Biopsychosocial Correlates of Truancy in Physical Education: A National Survey among Adolescents in Benin

Medina Srem-Sai, Edmond Kwesi Agormedah, John Elvis Hagan (), Newton Isaac Gbordzoe and Jacob Owusu Sarfo
Additional contact information
Medina Srem-Sai: Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sport, University of Education, Winneba P.O. Box 25, Ghana
Edmond Kwesi Agormedah: Department of Business and Social Sciences Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast P.O. Box 5007, Ghana
John Elvis Hagan: Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast P.O. Box 5007, Ghana
Newton Isaac Gbordzoe: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Family Health University College, Teshie, Accra P.O. Box TS 667, Ghana
Jacob Owusu Sarfo: Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast P.O. Box 5007, Ghana

Social Sciences, 2024, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Truancy among in-school adolescents has long been established as a major issue that negatively impacts educational attainment or goals and mental health-related issues. However, research on subjects such as physical education (PE) truancy and its correlates is somewhat limited. This study estimated the prevalence of PE and assessed the factors associated with PE truancy in Benin among in-school adolescents. The 2016 Benin’s Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) data from a sample of in-school adolescents (n = 2496; 13–17 years) were used for data analysis. The overall prevalence of past 30-day truancy in PE class was 15.4%, with female adolescents reporting a higher prevalence of PE truancy than their male counterparts. Stratified by gender, the regression analyses showed that males in 3rd–6th grade (aOR = 0.69, CI = 0.50–0.96) experiencing hunger (aOR = 0.51, CI = 0.32–0.81) and having suicidal ideations (aOR = 1.64, CI = 1.07–2.53) predisposed adolescents to PE truant behaviour. For female in-school adolescents experiencing hunger (aOR = 1.75, CI = 1.15–2.65), drinking alcohol (aOR = 0.62, CI = 0.44–0.87), having sedentary lifestyles (aOR = 0.62, CI = 0.40–0.96), and being physically attacked (aOR = 0.53, CI = 0.33–0.87) were significantly associated with PE truancy. However, understanding and supportive parents [aOR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.41–0.91] was a protective factor against PE truancy. The present findings suggest the design of gender-sensitive school-based interventions to help minimise or prevent PE truancy among in-school adolescents in Benin based on the predisposing factors while emphasising the protective influences.

Keywords: Benin; delinquency; parental support; physical education; supervision; truancy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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