Extending the trans-contextual model in physical education and leisure-time contexts: examining the role of basic psychological need satisfaction.
BACKGROUND
The trans-contextual model (TCM) is an integrated model of motivation that aims to explain the processes by which agentic support for autonomous motivation in physical education promotes autonomous motivation and physical activity in a leisure-time context. It is proposed that perceived support for autonomous motivation in physical education is related to autonomous motivation in physical education and leisure-time contexts. Furthermore, relations between autonomous motivation and the immediate antecedents of intentions to engage in physical activity behaviour and actual behaviour are hypothesized.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to incorporate the constructs of basic psychological need satisfaction in the TCM to provide a more comprehensive explanation of motivation and demonstrate the robustness of the findings of previous tests of the model that have not incorporated these constructs.


METHODS
Students (N=274) from Greek secondary schools.


METHODS
Participants completed self-report measures of perceived autonomy support, autonomous motivation, and basic psychological need satisfaction in physical education. Follow-up measures of these variables were taken in a leisure-time context along with measures of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control (PBC), and intentions from the theory of planned behaviour 1 week later. Self-reported physical activity behaviour was measured 4 weeks later.


RESULTS
Results supported TCM hypotheses. Basic psychological need satisfaction variables uniquely predicted autonomous motivation in physical education and leisure time as well as the antecedents of intention, namely, attitudes, and PBC. The basic psychological need satisfaction variables also mediated the effects of perceived autonomy support on autonomous motivation in physical education.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings support the TCM and provide further information of the mechanisms in the model and integrated theories of motivation in physical education and leisure time.
Barkoukis
Vassilis
V
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. bark@phed.auth.gr
Hagger
Martin S
MS
Lambropoulos
George
G
Tsorbatzoudis
Haralambos
H
D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D012931:Social Environment