6533b838fe1ef96bd12a3cbc

RESEARCH PRODUCT

The effect of physical education students' beliefs and values on their physical activity: A growth mixture modelling approach

subject

description

This study examined the change in adolescents' expectancy-related beliefs and task values towards physical education (PE). In addition, the physical activity (PA) growth trajectories of the identified adolescent subpopulations were examined. This study comprised 812 students (age M = 12.31, range: 11–13), who answered questionnaires four times during Grades 6–9. This study found that expectancy-related beliefs declined, while task values increased across the middle school transition. Adolescents who valued PE highly and experienced an increase in their expectancy-related beliefs became physically more active across time, while adolescents with the lowest levels and the most negative change in their expectancy-related beliefs and task values experienced the steepest decline in their PA. These findings suggest that a positive change in adolescents' expectancy-related beliefs in school PE is related to a positive change in their PA.