Motives of Future Elementary School Teachers to Be Physically Active

• Main Authors: Miguel Ángel Durán-Vinagre, Sebastián Feu, Susana Sánchez-Herrera, Javier Cubero
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: physical activity; motivation; self-determination index; university students
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4393

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the motives for engaging in sports activities and the self-determination index (SDI) and how this in turn predicts the intentionality of future elementary school teachers to be physically active. Method: A total of 331 first-year students of the teacher training degree participated, 34.4% men and 65.6% women (M = 20.02; SD = 2.55). They answered the following questionnaires: “Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-3”, “Motives for Physical Activity Measure-Revised” and “Intention to be Physically Active”. Results: Fitness, fun and care of one’s appearance are the motives most valued by university students. A regression analysis (structural equation modeling) revealed that appearance and social motives were negatively related to SDI, although the model clearly predicted the intention to be physically active (R²= 74). A second model, which positively related the appearance and competence motives with the intention to be active, improved the coefficient of determination (R²= 90) and fit index. Conclusions: The motives for engaging in physical activity influence university students in different ways in relation to the SDI and strongly predict the intention to be physically active.