Psychological predictors of children' s recess physical activity motivation and behavior.
OBJECTIVE
This study explored the relationship between children's basic psychological needs satisfaction at recess, level of recess physical activity motivation (RPAM), and recess physical activity (RPA).


METHODS
Fifth-grade children (N = 203; 50.2% boys; 71.7% healthy-weight) completed measures of age, gender, basic psychological need satisfaction, and level of self-determined motivation for RPA. Children also wore pedometers during six consecutive 30-min mid-school-day recesses.


RESULTS
Multiple regression analyses indicated unique significant predictors of RPAM and RPA according to gender and weight status. RPAM was significantly predicted by all three basic psychological needs for boys and only competence need satisfaction for girls and healthy-weight children. RPA was predicted by RPAM for girls, competence need satisfaction for overweight children, and autonomy need satisfaction for boys and healthy-weight children.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings support self-determination theory and provide important insight into the variations in psychological predictors of motivation for RPA and actual physical activity behavior based on gender and weight status.
School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Northern Colorado, Gunter Hall, Mailbox 39, Greeley, CO 80639, USA. megan.stellino@unco.edu
Megan Babkes
MB
Stellino
Christina D
CD
Sinclair
D061725:Accelerometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors