Predictive capacity to support autonomy in physical education classes on physical exercise

The objective of this study was to check the prediction capacity of teacher's autonomy support in physical education, basic psychological needs and motivation self-determined about fun, importance and intention towards physical education and the usual physical activity. Participated a sample of 718 students (346 boys and 372 girls) with ages between 13 and 19 years (M = 15.76, SD = 1.20). Autonomy support perceived, basic psychological needs, motivation, fun, the importance of Physical education, intentionality to be physically active and habitual physical activity was measured. A descriptive statistical analyzes and bivariate correlations of all the variables object of study, confirmatory factor analyzes of the instruments and an analysis through the structural regression model was performed. The results revealed a positive and significant relationship between all the variables. Thus, the autonomy support positively predicted the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs, and this, in turn, predicted self-determined motivation, which predicted fun the fun, that predicted the importance given to physical education, and it the intention to be physically active, which finally predicted the usual physical activity rate. The results help to optimize the commitment of young people to physical activity, both inside and outside the classroom. (C) 2019 Fundacion Universitaria Konrad Lorenz.