The relationships between motivation, body image, and the first grade in physical education

Abstract

Abstract. School physical education plays a vital role in inspiring and supporting children to create lifelong habits of physical activity. This study aimed to investigate the associations between motivation, body image (including functional body image, aesthetic body image and social physique anxiety), and the first grade in PE among Swedish sixth graders. A questionnaire was completed by girls (n= 221) and boys (n= 220), born 2009, from thirteen middle-schools. Using a relative autonomy index, multiple regression analyses showed that grades in PE predicted motivation towards PE over time for both girls and boys, and that functional satisfaction predicted motivation towards PE for girls. A second multiple regression analysis showed that several aspects of body image were associated with grades in PE for girls, such as functional dimensions of body image and social physique anxiety. The results imply that schools may want to consider the effect grades can have on motivational experiences in PE, as well as how to support children with body image concerns in achieving the curriculum goals and to develop a healthy body image.