Relationship between achievement motivation in Physical Education and BMI

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between variables related to achievement motivation such as self-perceived competence perception, comparative competence perception, commitment and dedication to learning in Physical Education, and anxiety about failure and stressful situations with body mass index. This analysis was carried out by sex since differences and reasons were found in the literature. A total of 846 adolescents in school in the autonomous community of Aragón participated in this study, with a mean age of 13.65 years (SD = 1.27), of whom 446 (52.71%) were male and 400 (47.29%) were female. All of them answered the AMPET4 questionnaire and their weight and height were taken and then their body mass index was calculated. The study of normality led to the use of nonparametric tests, using the Mann-Whitney U and Spearman's Rho tests for the analysis. Taking the whole group, inverse correlations were found, but with a small effect between the variables of self-perceived competence, comparative perception and commitment to learning in Physical Education classes and BMI. By sex, in the case of both boys and girls there was only inverse correlation in self-perceived perception and perception of competence compared to BMI. On the other hand, boys perceived themselves more competent both self-perceived and comparatively than girls, while girls felt more anxiety and overwhelm in the face of failure in PE classes than boys.

Keywords: Achievement motivation, perception of competence, BMI, Physical Education, Secondary Education, gender.