Amotivation and Low Relatedness in Urban Physical Education

• In Event: Roundtable Session 77
  In Roundtable Session: Student and Teacher Motivation in Physical Education

Abstract

Guided by the assumption that amotivation is a multidimensional construct, we designed this study to examine a four-dimensional amotivation model and explore the associations between low feelings of relatedness and amotivation in physical education. 482 urban high-school students completed questionnaires assessing their amotivation and relatedness. Structural equation modeling analysis supported the factorial structure of the amotivation model and revealed that low feelings of relatedness in physical education were associated with different subtypes of amotivation. It is likely that the influence of low relatedness on amotivation was more evident with boys than girls. Our findings demonstrate that low relatedness in physical education strongly impacts urban adolescents’ amotivation. The multidimensional nature of amotivation should be identified and instructionally addressed.

Authors

• Bo Shen, Wayne State University

• Alex C. Garn, Louisiana State University

• Nathan A. Mccaughtry, Wayne State University

• Jeffrey Martin, Wayne State University

• Mariane M. Fahlman, Wayne State University