Perfiles motivacionales en estudiantes de educación física de tres países y su relación con la actividad física

Analysis of Self-Perceived Physical Fitness of Physical Education Students in Public Schools in Extremadura (Spain)

Adolescence is a stage of crucial physiological and psychological changes within the individual's life cycle, where fitness work is important. With self-perception being crucial in relation to adolescent health and well-being, a positive perception of fitness is directly related to increased practice or higher level of physical activity (PA). Thus, the aims were: (1) to analyze, with the Visual Analogue Fitness Perception Scale for Adolescents (FP VAS A), the self-perceived physical fitness (PF) of high school students, (2) to investigate if there are differences according to sex and school location, and (3) to study the correlations between the items of the FP VAS A with age and body mass index (BMI). For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was designed with a total of 961 participants, 48.8% boys and 51.2% girls in secondary education, where 31.9% studied in rural schools and 68.1% in urban schools. The FP VAS A scale was used to assess self-reported PF. Regarding the results, there were statistically significant differences between sexes (p < 0.001), with boys showing higher scores than girls in all the items of the FP VAS A scale, with the exception of global flexibility. Inverse, mean and significant correlations were established between BMI and self-perceived overall PF (r = -0.202; p < 0.001), cardiorespiratory endurance (r = -0.226; p < 0.001) and movement speed (r = -0.268; p < 0.001). Between age and self-perceived cardiorespiratory endurance (r = -0.138; p < 0.001) an inverse, mean and significant correlation was also observed. In conclusion, boys showed a better self-perception of PF than girls for all physical abilities, with the exception of flexibility. School location was not shown to influence students' self-perceived PF. In addition, most of the self-perceived PF abilities for overall fitness correlated inversely with BMI.

Motivational Profiles in Physical Education: Differences at the Psychosocial, Gender, Age and Extracurricular Sports Practice Levels

The objective of this study was to analyze the motivational profiles of Physical Education (PE) students and assess differences based on the perception of the support of autonomy, the intention to be physically active, satisfaction with classes, gender, age, and extracurricular sports activities. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with a sample of 2621 students, aged 8 to 18 years (M = 14.16, SD = 2.28). An analysis of profiles was implemented, taking into account the motivation and the index of psychological mediators. The result of the cluster analysis gave a solution to four motivational profiles: high quality (n = 1094), low quantity (n = 292), low quality (n = 555), and high quantity (n = 680). Students grouped in the high quantity and quality profile presented higher levels of autonomy support, physical activity intention, enjoyment, and lower levels of boredom. Male participants, younger students, and those who participated in extracurricular activity were associated with self-determined profiles. In conclusion, the importance of promoting the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and autonomous motivation in PE classes is highlighted, in order to achieve higher values in terms of autonomy support, the intention to be physically active, enjoyment, and to reduce boredom levels in students.

Relationship between Learning and Psychomotor Skills in Early Childhood Education

Psychomotor skills are, among others, an aspect particularly valuable for structuring the teaching-learning process of infant schoolchildren. For this reason, a study was carried out with the aim of describing and comparing the socio-demographic, psychomotor, and learning levels of schoolchildren in the second stage of infant education. Ninety-five pupils from the second cycle of infant education in the capital of Granada took part in this study. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the movement assessment battery for children-2 (MABC-2), and the preschool learning behaviour scale (PLBS) were used to collect data. The main results show that manual dexterity appears as the main motor factor and similar figures in the three dimensions of learning behaviours. On the other hand, balance and learning behaviours were higher in 6-year-old schoolchildren. In terms of gender, girls obtained higher values for the level of the learning behaviour variables. A positive correlation was found between the dimensions of learning and motor activity.

Contributing to SDG 3 through Support for Trainer Autonomy: Relationship with Motivation, Basic Psychological Needs and the Intention to Be Physically Active

The objective of the study was to identify the profiles of support for autonomy perceived by athletes and compare them with motivation, basic psychological needs, and the intention to be physically active. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with 280 athletes (M = 15.28; SD = 1.71). The results reveal the existence of two profiles using the perception of support for autonomy as a grouping variable. A profile of "High perception of support for autonomy" (group 1, n = 190, M = 4.38, SD = 0.32) and a profile of "Low support for autonomy" (group 2, n = 90, M = 3.40, SD = 0.86). The data show statistically significant differences in favour of group 1 with higher values in the Self-Determination Index (p = 0.009) and three basic psychological needs measured with the Index of Psychological Mediators (p = 0.000), but no significant differences in intention to be physically active were found. In conclusion, the importance of the support of autonomy granted by coaches is demonstrated, thus favouring more adaptive motivational climates and the greater satisfaction of basic psychological needs. The intention to be physically active was not found in federated athletes. New studies are required to clarify this fact and improve the contribution of sustainable development to the social dimension.

Students’ Motivational and Emotional Experiences in Physical Education across Profiles of Extracurricular Physical Activity: The Influence in the Intention to Be Active

This study examined the relationship between extracurricular physical activity (PA) levels and students’ motivational and emotional experience during physical education (PE) classes and how this psychological experience can predict the intention to be physically active. The sample consisted of 811 Spanish secondary education students (371 boys and 440 girls) aged between 11 and 17 years (M = 13.15, SD = 1.16). Students completed questionnaires about their PA levels, their intention to be physically active, and their motivational and emotional experience during PE classes. A cluster analysis was used to classify the students according to their level of extracurricular PA. Based on a regression analysis, the variables enjoyment, pride, hopelessness, competence, satisfaction, and autonomous motivation played the highest role, predicting the intention to be physically active in the future. Statistical differences were found among the different PA profiles in these variables during the PE classes (MANCOVA). In conclusion, hours of PA outside school have a high relationship with the students’ emotional and motivational experience in their PE classes, which is related with the intention to practise PA in the future. A series of strategies have been proposed at both the institutional level and the teacher level to improve the PE psychological experience of those students who practise less extracurricular PA.

Levels of Physical Activity and Their Relationship With Motivational Determinants, Self-Regulation, and Other Health-Related Parameters in University Students

Motivational processes and emotional self-regulation are relevant factors for predicting the practice of physical exercise and for certain health-related parameters. The aim of the present work, developed along two different phases, was, on the one hand, to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity and, on the other hand, to carry out a comparative analysis between physically active and inactive university students in relation to their motivational determinants, emotional self-regulation, physical condition, health-related quality of life and other health parameters. The results obtained showed a prevalence of physical inactivity of 12.78%. Physically inactive participants showed significantly lower scores in intrinsic motivation, emotion regulation, and in some dimensions of health-related quality of life, as well as significantly high levels of body fat mass. Lastly, logistic regression analysis identified low scores in Emotional Clarity (p= .009) and Identified Regulation (p = .011), and high scores in Amotivation (p = .006) as reliable predictors of a physically inactive lifestyle. These results are useful for the design and implementation of programs aimed at promoting health and physical activity, with special attention on physically inactive youth populations.

ANÁLISIS DE LA ACTIVIDAD FÍSICA Y ESTILOS DE VIDA EN ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las relaciones entre las formas de motivación autodeterminadas, las necesidades psicológicas básicas y variables pertenecientes a estilos de vida saludables, así como hallar las diferencias en función del género, en estudiantes universitarios. Los cuestionarios validados se aplicaron a una muestra de 218 sujetos, 79 chicos y 139 chicas (M = 20,80 años; DT = 2,12). Los resultados mostraron que las formas de motivación más autodeterminadas se relacionaron de forma positiva con las necesidades psicológicas básicas, y con variables de estilo de vida que realzan la salud, y de manera negativa con el consumo de tabaco. Además, los chicos presentaron niveles más altos que las chicas en motivación intrínseca y extrínseca, necesidades psicológicas básicas, hábitos alimenticios, hábitos de descanso y práctica de actividad física. Se destaca la importancia de fomentar estrategias motivacionales para fomentar en los estudiantes un estilo de vida saludable.

Motivational Climate in Youth Football Players

(1) Background: In recent decades, the psychology of sport has gained special relevance in this field, due to the influence of psychological variables on sports performance and the regularity of sports practice. The aim of this research is to analyse the motivational climate of footballers. (2) Methods: This study uses a descriptive cross-sectional design on a sample of 156 adolescent football players, using an ad-hoc questionnaire for the recording of socio-demographic variables and the PMCSQ-2 questionnaire on motivational climate in sport. (3) Results: The results of the present investigation indicate that footballers are more oriented towards task than ego, sportsmen who compete in Honor Division being the those who are more oriented towards ego and those of National Division being more oriented towards task. (4) Conclusions: The main conclusion of this research is those who are the motivational climate is related to the division in which the players compete.

Grado de predicción de la motivación hacia las actividades físicodeportivas a través de la orientación de metas, la percepción del éxito y el grado de satisfacción. Un análisis transcultural

El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer en qué medida se puede predecir el tipo de motivación hacia la práctica de Actividad Físico-deportiva en función de la orientación de metas, la percepción del éxito y el grado de satisfacción en un análisis transcultural a lo largo de tres países latinos: España, México y Costa Rica. 2168 escolares (Edad 11-16 años) fueron evaluados con 4 instrumentos: Sport Motivation Scale (SMS), Task and Ego Orientation Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ), Satisfaction Instrument (SSI) y Beliefs About the Causes of Sport Success Questionnaire (BACS). Los resultados mostraron que valores altos de orientación a la tarea, diversión y esfuerzo pueden predecir significativamente la manifestación de motivación intrínseca en los sujetos de los tres países.