A Preliminary Investigation of the Relationship between Motivation for Physical Activity and Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties in Children Aged 8–12 Years: The Role of Autonomous Motivation

Abstract

While motivation for physical activity (PA) and PA participation have been linked, research on the relationship between motivation for PA and mental health outcomes is scant, with studies involving children largely underrepresented. Grounded in self-determination theory, this cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether autonomous motivation versus external motivation (a form of controlled motivation) for PA is associated with fewer emotional and behavioural difficulties and higher levels of PA in children. A sample of 87 children (aged 8–12 years) were recruited from five primary schools in Victoria, Australia. An adapted version of the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ) was used to measure motivation for PA and structured parent-report questions were used to assess moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) levels. Parents also completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to measure children’s emotional and behavioural difficulties. Children’s autonomous motivation was associated with fewer emotional and behavioural difficulties (β = −0.25, p = 0.038) and higher levels of MVPA (β = 0.24, p = 0.014). These results indicate autonomous motivation is associated with improved mental health outcomes and higher levels of PA in children. Thus, PA interventions that promote autonomous motivation may enhance children’s mental health compared to interventions that promote mainly controlled forms of motivation.

Understanding the Benefits of Brief Classroom‐Based Physical Activity Interventions on Primary School‐Aged Children's Enjoyment and Subjective Wellbeing: A Systematic Review

“…This includes resilience, sense of competence, self‐esteem, vitality, self‐determination, positive relationships, mood enhancement, self‐efficacy, positive mental health and emotion, worthwhile‐ness, life satisfaction, happiness, mindfulness, and quality of life (QoL) 5,7‐9 . PA has been shown to have a positive relationship with SWB as it can help to meet psychological needs 10 . Additionally, from a neural perspective, it has been proposed that PA may activate the brain in a range of regions (eg, the prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus, and hippocampus 11,12 ) that are implicated in emotional processing.…”

“…needs. 10 Additionally, from a neural perspective, it has been proposed that PA may activate the brain in a range of regions (eg, the prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus, and hippocampus 11,12 ) that are implicated in emotional processing. Therefore, PA may be an attractive mechanism to help children adaptively cope when faced with psychological stressors.…”

Parents’ Perceptions of the Value of Children’s Participation in Pediatric Rehabilitation Services: A Phenomenographic Study

“…Thus, from a child perspective, meetings with healthcare professionals need to be adapted to them and include alternative and augmentative communication tools in order to be engaging and motivating [27]. When a person's motivation is autonomous, they experience better behavioral outcomes as well as improved wellbeing and mental health [30]. This shows the importance of an individual care plan where the child's interest is included for the child to attain desirable outcomes [24].…”

Parental Support Is Associated with Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity among Chinese Adolescents through the Availability of Physical Activity Resources in the Home Environment and Autonomous Motivation

“…A prospective study showed that children’s motivation, based on changes in SDT constructs, led to changes in the behaviors associated with PA, and children who maintained high autonomous motivation also had a high level of PA [ 20 ]. Several studies have reported that autonomous motivation strongly correlates positively with MVPA, and a good autonomous motivation can predict a higher level of MVPA in adolescents [ 17 , 21 , 22 ].…”