Self-determined Motivation In Physical Education Research Articles

Association between Motivation in Physical Education and Positive Body Image: Mediating and Moderating Effects of Physical Activity Habits.

Concerns about body image might prevent adolescents from participating in physical education (PE) classes and physical activities during leisure-time. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the relationships between teacher support of autonomy, student motivations for PE, and positive body image, in a sample of Lithuanian adolescents. A total of 715 adolescents (51.89% girls) participated in the study. Ages ranged from 14 to 18 years, with a mean age of 16.00 (SD = 0.79) for girls and 15.99 (SD = 0.75) for boys. The questionnaire consisted of demographic questions, the Learning Climate Questionnaire, the Revised Perceived Locus of Causality in Physical Education Questionnaire, the Body Appreciation Scale-2, the Self-Report Habit Index for Physical Activity (PA), perceived physical fitness (PPF), and Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. The results showed that teacher support for students' autonomy was associated with higher positive body image. In adolescent girls, autonomous motivation for PE was the mediator between teacher support of autonomy and positive body image. The associations between self-determined motivation in PE and positive body image were mediated by PPF on one hand, and through PA habits and PPF on the other hand of the structural equation model (in girls). PA habits moderated associations between PE motivation and PPF. Associations between PE motivation and PPF were stronger in girls with the lowest PA habits compared to girls with mean PA habits. These results suggest that PE classes are important for promoting students' positive body images. PE teachers are advised to use pedagogical strategies that promote the self-determined motivation of students for PE. Increased self-determined motivation for physical education might be an effective strategy for physical self-perception and positive body image promotion in adolescent girls, especially those with low PA habits.

Effect of a hybrid teaching games for understanding/sport education unit on elementary students’ self-determined motivation in physical education

As an alternative to the direct instructional model, Metzler proposed a range of pedagogical models that include second generation models such as teaching games for understanding (TGfU) and sport education (SE). These pedagogical models have key design features that can promote high levels of autonomous motivation for both boys and girls. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to investigate the motivational outcomes of elementary boys and girls as they participated in an invasion game unit through two pedagogical models: a hybrid TGfU/SE unit or a direct instruction unit. Participants were 292 elementary school students (mean age = 10.41, standard deviation age = 0.49), who were taught through a hybrid TGfU/SE unit or a more traditional teacher-centred format within a pre-intervention/post-intervention quasi-experimental design. The hybrid unit was designed according to the characteristics of SE, while learning tasks were designed to integrate the pedagogical principles of TGfU. A 2 (pedagogical model) × 2 (test-time) × 2 (gender) multivariate analysis of variance was performed to detect between-groups and within-group differences. Significant differences in student motivation were observed for both boys and girls who participated in the hybrid TGfU/SE unit in both analyses across all motivational outcomes. Despite the existence of social stereotypes in terms of physical activity, teachers’ use of hybrid TGfU/SE units promotes an autonomy-supportive, inclusive, and equitable learning environment where all students, regardless of their gender and/or content focus of the unit and have opportunities to increase their engagement, enjoyment, and social interactions within physical education lessons.

Effect of autonomy support and dialogic learning on school children's physical activity and sport.

This study applies an intervention based on autonomy support through dialogic learning to examine effects on motivation and the promotion of physical activity and sport involvement during schoolchildren's leisure time. One hundred and two primary school students, aged 11-13years, participated (M=10.93, SD=0.75). The sample was divided into two groups: an experimental group (49 students) and a control group (53 students). A quasi-experimental study was conducted in physical education classes over the course of 9 months. Assessments of autonomy support from teachers, family, and peers; basic psychological needs; self-determined motivation in physical education and during leisure time; planned behavior variables; physical activity intention; and estimated and actual physical exercise behavior time were included in the model. Following the intervention, the results revealed that greater autonomy support by the teacher, the family and peers, satisfaction of the basic psychological needs, self-determined motivation during physical education class and during free time, greater perceived control, favorable attitude and intention to engage in physical activity contributed to the explanation of student physical activity involvement. These results suggest that when students receive extensive social support from diverse social agents that essential precursors to physical activity are strengthened and contribute to increased motivation and actual physical activity involvement. Efforts to promote effective communications with students and other pedagogical efforts, such as providing dialogic learning opportunities, should be considered in order to strengthen physical activity motivation and involvement in students.

Effect of self-determined motivation in physical education on objectively measured habitual physical activity

Grounded in the trans-contextual model, the purpose of the present study was to examine the role of self-determined motivation in Physical Education (PE) on self-determined motivation in Physical Activity (PA), PA intention, and accelerometer-measured habitual PA behavior among high-school aged adolescents. A sample of 394 Spanish high-school students (211 males and 183 females; aged 12-16 years) participated in the present study. The outcome measure of PA was established using accelerometry, whereas motivation toward PA and PE as well as PA intention were measured using validated questionnaires. Path analyses supported in part the central propositions of the trans-contextual model. Self-determined motivation in PE predicted the self-determined motivation in PA (β=.45, p<.001, R2=.26). Self-determined motivation in PA predicted PA intention (β=.51, p<.001, R2=.41). The predictive strength from PA intention to behavior was weak (β=.11, p=.011, R2=.21) with a statistically non-significant mediational model from self-determined motivation in PA via PA intention to PA behavior (β=.28, p=.231). This weak-to-non-significant relationship does not fully support the previous findings that have shown the feasibility of the trans-contextual model in charting the pathways from self-determined motivation in an educational context to behaviors in an out-of-school context.

A multi-theoretical approach of the students' motivational profiles in physical education: achievement and social goals.

The objective was to analyze the joint profiles of social goals (responsibility, relation and friendship) and 2 x 2 achievement goals, and the pattern of their relationship with the motivation types of the self-determination continuum in Physical Education settings. The sample consisted of 516 Secondary Education students (267 men, 249 women) aged between 12 and 17 years old ( M = 14.48, SD = 1.59). Cluster analysis and a MANOVA 2 (gender) x 4 (goal profiles) were performed. Cluster analysis showed four motivational profiles: "high social and mastery-approach goals", "intermediate social goals", "high social and achievement goals", and "low social and intermediate achievement goals". The "high social and mastery-approach goals" cluster was shown to be the most self-determined, followed by the "high social and achievement goals" cluster. This research emphasizes the value of social goals and helps to understand the motivational profiles of physical education students from a more holistic framework. It suggests that responsibility, friendship, and relation goals should be prioritized along with mastery-approach goals (but not performance goals) in order to increase students' self-determined motivation in Physical Education.

Attitudes toward and motivation for PE. Who collects the benefits of the subject?

Background and purpose: Due to attitudinal and motivational aims in the national curriculum, and to lack of research on adolescents' experiences with physical education (PE) in Norway, the purposes of this study were to (1) attain data on attitudes toward PE and self-determined motivation for PE among a representative sample of adolescents (N = 2010) in middle school (grade 8–10/age 13–15) and high school (grade 11–13/age 16–19) in Norway, and (2) to explore the relationship between involvement in movement activities outside school and self-determined motivation in PE.Findings: The results showed that 43% of the adolescents were not happy with how PE is taught in Norwegian schools, and that the variance in motivational regulations among students was substantial. Females reported a less positive attitude toward PE compared to males, and positive attitude tends to decrease with age for both sexes, both of which go against the intentions stated in the Norwegian core curriculum and in the PE-curriculum. However, the results showed that adolescents who reported involvement in organized competitive youth sports outside school reported significantly higher scores on attitude to PE and on self-determined motivation for PE compared to those who were not, even when eagerness to be involved in movement activity was controlled for. The results indicate that it is not gender per se that differentiates females from males with regard to self-determined motivation in PE, but rather their experience with competitive youth sports.Conclusions: The study concludes that PE in Norway seems to favor students, and female students in particular, who are involved in competitive youth sports. Based on the results, it is hypothesized that PE coincides with the logic of competitive youth sports, that youth sport participants reap most of the benefits of PE, and thus, that PE may produce social inequity in health. In accordance with proposals from Van den Berghe et al., the results on motivation in particular are integrated in a broader pedagogical discussion. It is claimed that PE is experienced in context, and that research on adolescents' experiences of PE, and thus development through PE, should be approached from a relational developmental systems perspective.

The effect of age on relationships between perceived teaching behaviours, basic psychological needs and self-determined motivation in physical education

The present study examined the effect of age on relationships between perceptions of various teaching behaviours, satisfaction of the basic psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness, and self-determined motivation in physical education, using Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory [3] as a theoretical framework. The 264 students from 7th grade (M age=13.2, SD=0.42) and 432 from 12th grade (M age=18.1, SD=0.38) completed measures of perceived teaching behaviours with dimensions of democratic behaviour, autocratic behaviour, teaching and instruction, situation consideration, positive general verbal feedback, and both positive and negative nonverbal feedback, as well as measures of perceived satisfaction of the needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness, and selfdetermined motivation. Path-analytic models revealed similarities and discrepancies in the magnitude of relationships between perceived teaching behaviours, satisfaction of the basic psychological needs, and self-determined motivation in physical education among students with different age groups. Results suggested that for 7th graders, the perception of positive general verbal feedback was essential antecedent of self-determined motivation, whereas for 12th graders both perceptions of positive general verbal feedback and democratic behaviour were essential antecedents of self-determined motivation in physical education.

Self-Determined Motivation in Physical Education and its Links to Motivation for Leisure-Time Physical Activity, Physical Activity, and Well-Being in General

The present study tested a trans-contextual model based on self-determination theory of the relations between motivation in physical education, motivation in leisure-time physical activity, physical activity, and psychological well-being. Participants were 329 Norwegian upper secondary school students (M age = 16.5 yr., SD = 0.7). Students' perceptions of autonomy-supportive teachers in physical education were expected to be positively associated with students' psychological needs satisfaction in physical education, which was expected to be positively related to autonomous motivation for physical education participation. In turn, autonomous motivation for physical education was expected to be positively associated with perceived competence and autonomous motivation for leisure-time physical activity, which both were expected to be positively associated with leisure-time physical activity and psychological well-being in general. Structural equation models and bootstrapping supported the hypotheses and the indirect links between variables. Sex differences indicate that more research is needed on how to motivate girls to be more physically active in leisure time.

Perceived Teaching Behaviors and Self-Determined Motivation in Physical Education

In the present study, we tested the effects of specific dimensions of perceived teaching behaviors on students' self-determined motivation in physical education. In accordance with the tenets of self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000), we expected the psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness would mediate these effects. Secondary school students (N = 498) ages 12–17 years completed measures of perceived teaching behaviors for seven dimensions: (a) democratic behavior, (b) autocratic behavior, (c) teaching and instruction, (d) situation consideration, (e) positive general feedback, (f) positive nonverbal feedback, and (h) negative nonverbal feedback. They also completed measures of perceived satisfaction for competence, autonomy, relatedness, and self-determined motivation. A path-analytic model revealed a positive, indirect effect of perceived positive general feedback on self-determined motivation. The effects of perceived autocratic behavior and negative nonverbal feedback were direct and negative, whereas the effects of teaching and instruction and situation consideration were direct and positive. Results suggest that feedback, situation consideration, and teaching and instruction are essential antecedents to self-determined motivation.

Perceived Teaching Behaviors and Self-Determined Motivation in Physical Education: A Test of Self-Determination Theory

Perceived Teaching Behaviors and Self-Determined Motivation in Physical Education: A Test of Self-Determination Theory

Peers and Teachers as Sources of Relatedness Perceptions, Motivation, and Affective Responses in Physical Education

Research has demonstrated the importance of relatedness perceptions to self-determined motivation in physical education. Therefore, studies have begun to examine the social factors contributing to feelings of relatedness. The purpose of this study was to examine teacher (perceived emotional support) and peer (acceptance, friendship quality) relationship variables to feelings of relatedness, motivation, and affective responses in junior high physical education students (N = 411). Results revealed that perceived relatedness mediated the relationship between variables and self-determined motivation and related directly to the amount of enjoyment and worry students experienced. These findings demonstrate that relationships with both teachers and peers are important for students' relatedness perceptions, motivation, enjoyment, and worry in physical education.

Change in Physical Education Motivation and Physical Activity Behavior during Middle School

Purpose To test a mediational model of the relationships among motivation-related variables in middle-school physical education and leisure-time physical activity behavior. Methods Sixth- and seventh-grade physical education students from five middle schools in the midwest United States completed a survey containing measures of study variables on two occasions, 1 year apart. Results Motivation-related constructs positively predicted leisure-time physical activity behavior. Enjoyment of activities in physical education and physical activity during class mediated the relationship between self-determined motivation in physical education and leisure-time physical activity. Perceived competence, autonomy, and relatedness were important antecedent variables in the model, with autonomy and relatedness showing less stability over time and positively predicting self-determined motivation. Conclusions Students' leisure-time physical activity is linked to motivation-related experiences in physical education. Perceptions of competence, autonomy, and relatedness, self-determined motivation, enjoyment, and physical activity in the physical education setting directly or indirectly predict leisure-time physical activity. The associations suggest that more adaptive motivation corresponds to transfer of behavior across contexts. Also, the findings suggest that the efficacy of school-based physical activity interventions, within and outside of school, is linked to the degree of support for students' self-determined motivation.

A Prospective Study of Participation in Optional School Physical Education Using a Self-Determination Theory Framework.

This study examined whether contextual and personal motivational variables, taken from selfdetermination theory, could predict student cognitive and affective experiences in school physical education (PE), as well as participation in optional PE in the following school year. Structural equation modeling analysis with a sample of 302 British adolescents showed that need support provided by the PE teachers was related to student need satisfaction, which in turn predicted self-determined motivation. The latter predicted directly various motivational indices and indirectly future participation in optional PE. Furthermore, multivariate analysis of variance tests showed that those who opted for PE (n 171), compared with those who did not (n 131), reported more positive motivational experiences in the previous school year. The findings call for the promotion of self-determined motivation in PE in order to enhance student positive experiences and participation rates.