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

• Main Authors: Liang Shen, Joonyoung Lee, Changzhou Chen, Tao Zhang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: achievement goals; motivation; physical fitness; physical activity; adolescents
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/15/6005

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; <i>M</i>_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.