TY - JOUR
T1 - Two worlds colliding
T2 - 2017 North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity conference
AU - De Meester, An
AU - Pion, Johan
AU - Mostaert, Mireille
AU - Bardid, Farid
AU - Cardon, Greet
AU - De Muynck, Gert-Jan
AU - Lenoir, Matthieu
AU - Haerens, Leen
N1 - Accepted author manuscript version reprinted, by permission, from Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, vol 39, no. 3 Suppl 1, pp. S59-S59. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.39.3.s1. © Human Kinetics, Inc.
PY - 2017/6/30
Y1 - 2017/6/30
N2 - Objectives: Physical activity (PA) is associated with many health benefits but low PA levels have been reported across the globe, even among young children. Despite evidence in support of the Self-Determination Theory (SDT, Deci & Ryan, 2000)–proposed relationships between competence satisfaction, autonomous motivation, and PA in adults and adolescents, there is only limited proof that these relationships also apply to children. Likewise, there is no conclusive evidence for the mediating effect of perceived motor competence (PMC) in the relationship between actual motor competence (AMC) and PA in children, as suggested by the conceptual model (Stodden et al., 2008). Therefore, the aim of the current study was to examine whether the PA-pathways as suggested by the conceptual model and SDT apply to children. Methods: 627 children (51.67% boys, 8-13 yrs) completed validated questionnaires to assess weekly sports participation (FPAQ), PMC (SPPC), competence satisfaction (PNSE), and motivation for sports (BREQ). Children's AMC was assessed with the KTK. Structural Equation Modeling was conducted to examine the theory-based pathways from AMC via PMC, competence satisfaction, and autonomous motivation to organized sports participation. Results: We found a significant, direct effect from AMC to sports participation (beta=.142, p=.001) with PMC, but not competence satisfaction or autonomous motivation, partially mediating this relationship (beta =.119, p<.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that, among children in middle and late childhood, AMC relates to sports participation and this relationship is, as proposed in the conceptual model, mediated by PMC. PMC also significantly relates to competence satisfaction and autonomous sports- motivation but the last two SDT-related constructs do not add to the prediction of organized sports participation when being integrated in the conceptual model. Based on the evidence that both AMC and PMC are crucial with respect to children's sports participation, it is recommended that physical education teachers and coaches foster both.
AB - Objectives: Physical activity (PA) is associated with many health benefits but low PA levels have been reported across the globe, even among young children. Despite evidence in support of the Self-Determination Theory (SDT, Deci & Ryan, 2000)–proposed relationships between competence satisfaction, autonomous motivation, and PA in adults and adolescents, there is only limited proof that these relationships also apply to children. Likewise, there is no conclusive evidence for the mediating effect of perceived motor competence (PMC) in the relationship between actual motor competence (AMC) and PA in children, as suggested by the conceptual model (Stodden et al., 2008). Therefore, the aim of the current study was to examine whether the PA-pathways as suggested by the conceptual model and SDT apply to children. Methods: 627 children (51.67% boys, 8-13 yrs) completed validated questionnaires to assess weekly sports participation (FPAQ), PMC (SPPC), competence satisfaction (PNSE), and motivation for sports (BREQ). Children's AMC was assessed with the KTK. Structural Equation Modeling was conducted to examine the theory-based pathways from AMC via PMC, competence satisfaction, and autonomous motivation to organized sports participation. Results: We found a significant, direct effect from AMC to sports participation (beta=.142, p=.001) with PMC, but not competence satisfaction or autonomous motivation, partially mediating this relationship (beta =.119, p<.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that, among children in middle and late childhood, AMC relates to sports participation and this relationship is, as proposed in the conceptual model, mediated by PMC. PMC also significantly relates to competence satisfaction and autonomous sports- motivation but the last two SDT-related constructs do not add to the prediction of organized sports participation when being integrated in the conceptual model. Based on the evidence that both AMC and PMC are crucial with respect to children's sports participation, it is recommended that physical education teachers and coaches foster both.
KW - physical activity
KW - children
KW - motor development
UR - https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.39.3.s1
UR - https://www.naspspa.com/2017-conference/
M3 - Conference Contribution
VL - 39
SP - S59-S59
JO - Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
JF - Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
SN - 0895-2779
IS - 3 Suppl 1
Y2 - 5 June 2017 through 8 June 2017
ER -