Motivational climate, need satisfaction, self-determined motivation, and accelerometer-measured physical activity among secondary school students in China

Abstract

Objectives Based on integration constructs from self-determination theory (SDT) and achievement goal theory (AGT), this study aims to investigate the relationship among classroom motivational climate from four perspectives (i.e., autonomy support, relatedness support, task-involving climate and ego-involving climate), three psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence and relatedness), self-determined motivation and physical activity (PA) in secondary physical education (PE). Methods The participants consisted of 1,186 Chinese students aged 11 to 16 years from three secondary schools around Shanghai. An accelerometer was adopted to measure moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Questionnaires were used to measure SDT variables (i.e., classroom motivational climate, perceived competence, autonomy, relatedness, self-determined motivation). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyze the hypothesized relationship. Results A SEM analysis revealed that autonomy support and task-involving climate were positively associated with autonomy, relatedness and competence. Relatedness support was positively related with autonomy and relatedness, whereas ego-involving climate was only associated with competence. The three psychological needs positively affected self-determined motivation, and self-determined motivation positively affected the MVPA time of secondary school students in PE lessons. Conclusion These findings support a model of motivation that integrate SDT and AGT, provides new insight into understanding MVPA in Chinese PE, and establishes a solid basis for intervention research.