Motivational factors in the practice of physical activity of the students of physical education of santiago of chile

Introduction: the theory of self-determination is based on the satisfaction of psychological basic needs: competition, autonomy and relation with the others, to achieve high levels of motivation. Aim: knowing the psychometric properties of The Mediators' Scale Motivation in the Sport (MSMS) in physical education students of Santiago de Chile and determine the levels of satisfaction of motivational needs. Method: 212 students from three universities were evaluated by MSMS. Results: MSMS was diminished to 18 items remaining grouped in 3 factors that explain 58,342 % of the variance, presented a global value of reliability of 0,911. Both males and ladies think that his companions of training are nice, trust in his force and feel satisfied when they can choose activities of training. Conclusion: MSMS is a valid and reliable instrument to apply it in Chilean physical education students. On the other hand, the satisfaction of each one of the needs does not present significant differences with regard to sex, course and diurnal-evening day of study.