Need Satisfaction and Need Thwarting in Physical Education and Intention to be Physically Active

• Main Authors: Ricardo Cuevas-Campos, Juan Gregorio Fernández-Bustos, David González-Cutre, Andrea Hernández-Martínez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: adolescence; self-determination; physical activity; path analysis; motivation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/18/7312

The aim of this study is to evaluate a theoretical model for analyzing the influence of need satisfaction, need thwarting, motivation, enjoyment, boredom, and exhaustion in physical education on the intention to be physically active. In addition, we examined the mediation effect of motivation between psychological basic needs and the intention to be physically active. The study was based on self-determination theory. To achieve this, 480 students between 12 and 18 years old filled out a questionnaire to measure the satisfaction and thwarting of basic psychological needs, motivation, enjoyment, boredom, exhaustion, and intention to be physically active. The results of path analysis showed the relevance of the satisfaction of the need for competence in physical education in order to increase self-determined motivation, enjoyment, and intention to be physically active. Additionally, intention was positively predicted by enjoyment and negatively predicted by exhaustion. Need thwarting directly predicted negative consequences, such as boredom and exhaustion. Motivation mediated the relationship between basic needs and intention to be physically active. These data highlight the importance of considering basic psychological need thwarting in studies on the promotion of physical activity.