Perception of students' motivations in gymnastic activities in physical education classes

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Introduction: Gymnastics encompasses a diverse spectrum of practices considered fundamental for students’ education process, promoting their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development in an integrated manner. Nonetheless, its adoption in the school context falls short compared to other modalities. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the reasons behind the lack of enthusiasm for gymnastic activities, examining students' preferences and experiences through the analysis of their perceptions. Methodology: The study group consisted of a total of 232 participants from a school cluster located in Oliveira de Azeméis, from the 5th, 7th, and 10th grades, to ensure the representativeness of the early years of each study cycle, specifically the initial, intermediate, and final stages. An adapted version of the questionnaire by Silva and Ferro (2016) was used for data collection, as well as version 29 of the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for data analysis. Results: Age did not significantly influenced the enjoyment of gymnastic activities; a significant association was noted between gender and the enjoyment of the practice, as well as between gender and the perception of gymnastics as a feminine modality; there was a significant association between the appreciation of gymnastics in the school context and its practice outside of it, as well as with the perceived difficulty in its execution. Conclusions: Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective strategies that promote gymnastics in schools, ensuring that students can benefit from its advantages.