Psychological needs satisfaction, self-determined motivation, and physical activity of students in physical education: Comparison across gender and school levels

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study applies self-determination theory (SDT) to test the hypothesised relationships amongst three basic psychological needs, level of self-determined motivation (i.e. self-determination index, SDI) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) of Chinese elementary and secondary school students during their physical education (PE) in Shanghai, China. Gender and school-level differences in these relationships are also explored. The participants comprise 1829 students from three elementary and secondary schools in Shanghai, China. Accelerometers are used to measure the MVPA duration of the participants in PE. The Self-regulation Questionnaire and the Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale are completed by the participants to assess PE motivation and the three psychological needs of students. The structural equation modelling (SEM) results show that the hypothesised model has a good fit with our data. Autonomy, competence, and relatedness are positively associated with SDI for MVPA. The SDI is positively related to the time spent by students in MVPA in PE. The multi-group path analysis results reveal that the relationship between SDI and MVPA is stronger for secondary school students than elementary students. Overall, our findings support the applicability of SDT in understanding and promoting the physical activities amongst Chinese school students in PE. Accordingly, intervention should be conducted to develop autonomy, competence and social relatedness of elementary and secondary school students. Additional efforts are required to encourage elementary school students to be more self-determinant in PE classes. Highlights Findings support the applicability of SDT in understanding and promoting the physical activities amongst Chinese school students in PE SDI was positively related to school students’ MVPA level. The satisfaction of autonomy, competence and relatedness towards PE was positively associated with students’ SDI. The proposed motivational sequence for adolescent MVPA in PE were similar for male and female students. The relationship between SDI and MVPA of secondary school students was significantly stronger than elementary school students