Exploratory study of experiences in physical education classes that promote social skills related to helping behaviorin university students

Abstract

 Helping behavior is one of the key factors related to psychological and social adaptation. It has been shown that social skills promote helping behavior. In recent years, social skills education has been widely adopted in schools. Social skills are one of the target factors that are enhanced through physical education classes. The main purpose of this study was to develop a theoretical and hypothetical model to enhance helping behavior by social skills developed through experience in physical education classes. The participants were university students (759 men and 345 women) who completed questionnaires on helping behavior, social skills, and sport experiences in physical education classes. Path analysis indicated that experiences in physical education classes were able to enhance social skills that engender helping behavior. Theoretical structuring of the model was supported (GFI=1.00, AGFI=.97, CFI=1.00, and RMSEA=.05). In addition, direct and indirect interactions between helping behavior and experiences in physical education were analyzed, and the standardized coefficients indicated that there was a direct effect of challenge/achievement on helping behavior. We make some suggestions about strategies that teachers can adopt in physical education classes and discuss future directions for research.