Motivational predictors of physical education students' effort, exercise intentions, and leisure-time physical activity: a multilevel linear growth analysis.
Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 2000), the current study explored whether physical education (PE) students' psychological needs and their motivational regulations toward PE predicted mean differences and changes in effort in PE, exercise intentions, and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) over the course of one UK school trimester. One hundred and seventy-eight students (69% male) aged between 11 and 16 years completed a multisection questionnaire at the beginning, middle, and end of a school trimester. Multilevel growth models revealed that students' perceived competence and self-determined regulations were the most consistent predictors of the outcome variables at the within- and between-person levels. The results of this work add to the extant SDT-based literature by examining change in PE students' motivational regulations and psychological needs, as well as underscoring the importance of disaggregating within- and between-student effects.
Taylor
Ian M
IM
School of Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom.
Ntoumanis
Nikos
N
Standage
Martyn
M
Spray
Christopher M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D055361:Multilevel Analysis / Q000379:methods; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom