Motives of Future Elementary School Teachers to Be Physically Active.

Miguel Ángel Durán-Vinagre,Sebastián Feu,Susana Sánchez-Herrera,Javier Cubero

doi:10.3390/ijerph17124393

Miguel Ángel Durán-Vinagre, Sebastián Feu + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124393

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the motives for engaging in sports activities and the self-determination index (SDI) and how this in turn predicts the intentionality of future elementary school teachers to be physically active. Method: A total of 331 first-year students of the teacher training degree participated, 34.4% men and 65.6% women (M = 20.02; SD = 2.55). They answered the following questionnaires: “Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-3”, “Motives for Physical Activity Measure-Revised” and “Intention to be Physically Active”. Results: Fitness, fun and care of one’s appearance are the motives most valued by university students. A regression analysis (structural equation modeling) revealed that appearance and social motives were negatively related to SDI, although the model clearly predicted the intention to be physically active (R2 = 0.74). A second model, which positively related the appearance and competence motives with the intention to be active, improved the coefficient of determination (R2 = 90) and fit index. Conclusions: The motives for engaging in physical activity influence university students in different ways in relation to the SDI and strongly predict the intention to be physically active.

Highlights

IntroductionThe period of adolescence marks the passage from childhood to adulthood and is described as a time of transition where a series of biological, psychological and social changes occur at great speed [1]
The period of adolescence marks the passage from childhood to adulthood and is described as a time of transition where a series of biological, psychological and social changes occur at great speed [1].In this sense, adolescence is an important period in the development and growth of each person [2], and a time when healthy habits and lifestyles are created [3]
Our objective was to determine the degree to which the motives for engaging in sports activities affected the self-determination index (SDI), as the SDI predicts the intentionality of university students in the elementary education teaching degree to be physically active [38]

Summary

Introduction

The period of adolescence marks the passage from childhood to adulthood and is described as a time of transition where a series of biological, psychological and social changes occur at great speed [1]. In this sense, adolescence is an important period in the development and growth of each person [2], and a time when healthy habits and lifestyles are created [3]. It should be noted that, both in a national and international context, studies on this topic indicate that the number of university students who are physically active is low [5,11,12,13].

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