Predictive factors of students' physical activity in different learning interest phases: A cluster analysis of physical education

Abstract

IntroductionThis study investigates the relationships among students' perception of the sports environment, expectancy value, achievement goals, physical activity, sports knowledge and skills in physical education (PE) in different learning interest phases.MethodThis cross‐sectional study used a sample of 4367 Chinese primary and secondary school students enrolled in PE classes, Mage = 12.1, SD = 2.9, 48.9% males. Validated questionnaires assessed their physical activity, expectancy value, achievement goals, and sports knowledge and skills. Cluster analysis examined four student profiles in relation to their learning interest in PE. For each profile identified, correlation and multiple regression analyses examined the relationships among students' expectancy value, achievement goals, sports knowledge and skills, and physical activity.ResultsFour different student interest profiles were identified, revealing a continuum from the “triggered situational interest” (TSI) to the “well‐developed individual interest” (WII) phases. The results confirmed the key role played by students' perception of the family sports environment and sports knowledge and skills in their PE interest in all four phases, while sex, perception of the school and social sports environment, achievement goals and expectancy value had different predictive effects on students' physical activity in different interest phases.ConclusionsThe findings from this study provide a new lens by which to divide the phases of learning interest in PE. Students' characteristics differed among the four different learning interest phases, and the impacts on physical activity varied. Future research is needed to consider the interest phase of adolescents to make more targeted guidance measures when improving physical activities.