Girls who are dissatisfied with their bodies receive lower grades in Physical Education in sixth grade, while pupils with strong confidence in their physical abilities perform better. This is shown in a study from the University of Gothenburg.
The final year of primary school is the first time that sixth graders receive grades in Physical Education.
“The grade is awarded during a developmentally sensitive period. The body changes with puberty, and children often become highly self-conscious about issues related to body and appearance,” says Carolina Lunde, Professor of Psychology.
The background of the study was, among other things, to investigate how the first grade in Physical Education interacts with children’s body image.
The results show that children who have positive confidence in their body’s physical ability receive higher grades.
“This applies to both girls and boys, and indicates that those who believe in themselves dare to participate more actively and demonstrate their skills during PE lessons,” she says.
Body dissatisfaction linked to lower grades
The study also revealed that girls – but not boys – who are dissatisfied with, or worried about, their bodies’ appearance or physical ability receive lower grades in Physical Education.
“This, in turn, is linked to the fact that these girls, by the end of the study, became less interested in their physical health, for example by being less physically active. And this is the most important aspect of the study – that grades appear to jeopardize the long-term goals of the curriculum, such as promoting a positive body image and a lifelong interest in physical activity,” says Carolina Lunde.
Important for schools to recognize the impact of grading
The fact that this applied only to girls may reflect the higher demands placed on their appearance. Such pressures mean that girls are more often dissatisfied with their bodies than boys, which can lead them to avoid situations where the body is exposed, for example during PE lessons.
“I think it is important for schools to be aware that grading may counteract the curriculum’s goals for some children. Even if it is not possible to abolish grades, we need to help all children feel that their bodies are good enough just the way they are,” says Carolina Lunde.
A total of 450 Swedish sixth-grade pupils participated in the study by responding to questionnaires. These were distributed at the beginning of the autumn term, at the end of the autumn term when they had received their first grade, and at the end of the spring term.