Using a cross-sectional study design, we tested a structural equation model of hypothesized relationships among a group of variables: motivational climate in physical education (PE), students’ social competence in PE, out of-school physical activity (PA) motivation, PA intention and their moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Based on the self-reports of 363 fourth to sixth grade elementary school students (172 girls, 191 boys), the model revealed that the task-involving motivational climate in PE was linked to higher MVPA via cooperation in PE, and also via extrinsic motivation and PA intention. Ego-involving motivational climate was related to higher extrinsic motivation and amotivation, further to higher PA intention and, finally, to higher MVPA. Task-involving motivational climate was positively linked to students’ social competence markers of cooperation and empathy, and negatively to disruptiveness. Ego-involving motivational climate was positively related to disruptiveness and impulsivity, the markers of low social competence. The study showed that the motivational climate and co-operational aspect of social competence both played significant roles in students’ PA motivation, PA intention and MVPA. A pedagogical model that brings the learning of social competence relevant skills to the fore is creative physical education (CPE). Analysis of CPE is provided which highlights teaching behaviors which contribute to the students’ MVPA through motivational climates, co-operation, PA motivation and PA intention.

This study examined basic psychological need satisfactions for competence, autonomy, and social relatedness in physical education (PE) and their contributions to accelerometer-based in-class and total moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) across a one-year follow-up (T1). Participants were 523 students (girls 280, boys 243; mean age = 11.26 ± 0.31) and the data were collected using self-reports and waist-worn accelerometers. The key findings were: (a) competence and social relatedness need satisfaction at baseline (T0) predicted total MVPA at T1 via total MVPA at T0; (b) in-class MVPA at T0 predicted total MVPA at T1 via total MVPA at T0; (c) in-class MVPA was directly associated with total MVPA at T0 and T1; and (d) boys scored higher than girls on competence and relatedness need satisfaction at T0. These findings indicate that the need satisfactions for competence and social relatedness in PE are central components facilitating the greatest increases in total MVPA participation. To improve student outcomes, it is essential that all children receive positive and satisfying PE experiences. Enhancing the readiness and capability of pre- and in-service teachers through teacher training programmes is vital to raising awareness of the basic psychological need satisfactions behind autonomous motivation and greater MVPA engagement.

Self-determination theory (SDT) is a compelling framework for understanding the psychological environment and explaining human motivation. This is especially crucial in school physical education (PE), given that the psychological environment within PE has been demonstrated to be closely related to the formation of physical activity motivation and behaviors. Advancing current knowledge and implementing a longitudinal approach, the aim of this study was, first, to investigate longitudinal changes in psychological needs and motivational regulation, and second, to examine the role of needs in the development of motivational regulation among PE students. A sample of 1148 Finnish adolescents (583 girls, 565 boys, M _age   =   11.27 ± 0.32) participated in annual assessments three times. A latent growth model analysis was used to examine the longitudinal associations between the outcome variables, namely psychological needs and motivational regulation. The results indicated that needs satisfaction (α ₂ range −0.20[0.03] to −0.06[0.02]), intrinsic motivation (α ₂ =   −0.38[0.03]), and identified regulation (α ₂ =   −0.19[0.03]) declined, whereas external regulation (α ₂ =   0.16[0.02]) and amotivation (α ₂ =   0.09[0.02]) increased. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that psychological needs significantly predicted autonomous forms of motivational regulation (intrinsic motivation R ² = 0.72[0.13]; identified regulation R ² = 0.69[0.20]). Conversely, positive changes in autonomy (β = −0.29[0.13]) and relatedness (β = −0.45[0.22]) accounted for the negative changes in amotivation ( R ² = 0.62[0.22]). In conclusion, the findings of the study corroborated the central postulations of SDT, providing empirical evidence of the importance of psychological needs in the development of motivation in PE.

The present study tested the motivational model of physical education (PE) including needs for competence, autonomy, social relatedness, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, in-class moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and total MVPA. Participants were 490 (264 girls, 226 boys) Finnish elementary school students. The data were collected using accelerometers and questionnaires for a seven-day period during the fall semester 2017. The key findings were that 1) social relatedness associated with total MVPA via inclass MVPA in girls, whereas competence was linked to in-class MVPA through extrinsic motivation in boys, 2) competence was positively linked to extrinsic motivation in a similar way in both girls and boys, 3) social relatedness and in-class MVPA were positively associated with total MVPA in both girls and boys, 4) competence, autonomy, and relatedness were positively linked to intrinsic motivation in girls when only competence and autonomy were related to intrinsic motivation in boys, and 5) in-class MVPA contributed 36% of total weekly MVPA minutes in the present sample. Although the indirect relationships between study variables did not fully support the existing PE motivational model, the direct associations showed that needs