Abstract

MARTINEZ-BAENA, Alejandro; MAYORGA-VEGA, Daniel  and  VICIANA, Jesús. Motivation toward Physical Education and its relationship with the health-related physical fitness in secondary education students. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2016, vol.33, n.4, pp.948-953. ISSN 1699-5198.  https://dx.doi.org/10.20960/nh.397.

Introduction: The increment of motivation toward Physical Education could be a crucial element increasing the health-related physical fitness in schoolchildren. The lack of studies in the Spanish population makes necessary the development of this research line. Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine the association between the motivation toward Physical Education and the health-related physical fitness levels in adolescents from secondary education. Methods: A total of 294 adolescents (167 males and 127 females), from 13 to 16 years of age completed the Perceived Locus of Causality in Physical Education questionnaire and they performed the health-related physical fitness tests of the ALPHA-Fitness Battery of High Priority. Results: The results of the study showed a positive association between having a high motivation toward Physical Education and having a higher cardiorespiratory fitness, in both males and females (p < 0.05). However, no association between motivation toward Physical Education and overweight or muscular strength was found. Conclusions: There is a positive association between the motivation toward Physical Education and cardiorespiratory fitness. Therefore, with the purpose that students have health-enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness levels, Physical Education teachers should promote the motivation toward Physical Education.

Keywords : Self-determination theory; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Overweight; Muscular strength; Adolescents.

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