Examining the Association Between Physical Education Quality and Youth Physical Activity Levels Outside School in Ogun State

High-quality physical education can function as a catalyst for habitual physical activity beyond the school setting, though the strength of this relationship in Nigerian contexts has not been rigorously quantified. This study examines the association between objectively assessed physical education quality and out-of-school physical activity levels among secondary school students in Ogun State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional analytical design was employed across 15 secondary schools. Physical education lesson quality was assessed using the Physical Education Observation Instrument across 120 observed lessons, rating lesson management, instruction, practice opportunities, student engagement, and health-related content. Student out-of-school physical activity was measured using seven-day accelerometry among 360 students from the observed schools. Multilevel regression analysis examined school-level physical education quality as a predictor of student-level out-of-school physical activity. Findings indicate a statistically significant positive association between physical education lesson quality and out-of-school moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, even after adjusting for individual-level confounders including gender, socioeconomic status, and school type. Schools in the top quartile of physical education quality produce students accumulating an average of 18 additional minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day compared to those in the bottom quartile. Motivational climate within physical education and perceived physical competence are identified as key mediating mechanisms. Recommendations include investing in physical education teacher quality improvement and monitoring physical education delivery through structured observation protocols. Keywords: physical education quality, youth physical activity, accelerometry, Ogun State, observational study