High School Adolescents’ Physical Activity and Physical Fitness: A 3 × 2 Achievement Goal Approach

Liang Shen, Joonyoung Lee, Changzhou Chen and Tao Zhang
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Liang Shen: School of Physical Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
Joonyoung Lee: Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
Changzhou Chen: School of Leisure Sport, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
Tao Zhang: Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 15, 1-9

Abstract: Previous research evidence showed deficient physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) performance levels among high school students. Personal goal orientations motivate their behavior; therefore, it is essential to discover high school students’ goal orientations in PA and PF. Guided by the latest 3 × 2 achievement goal model, we examined the influence of six goal orientations on PA and PF in high school students. A total of 792 high school students in China (54.5% girls; M age = 16.93 ± 0.82) completed validated measurements assessing 3 × 2 goal orientations for PA and PF. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to analyze whether 3 × 2 achievement goal orientations significantly influenced the study variables. Other-approach, self-approach, and task-avoidance goals significantly predicted PA, and the 50-meter dash was predicted by other-approach and self-avoidance goals. The self-approach goal was the only significant predictor of the standing long jump. In conclusion, fostering self- and other-approach-oriented environments with developmentally appropriate content in physical education may have implications for enhancing high school students’ PA and PF.

Keywords: achievement goals; motivation; physical fitness; physical activity; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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