A motivational training program for secondary physical education teachers based on the circumplex model: a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

In most self-determination theory (SDT) research, improving (de)motivating teaching styles provides numerous benefits for students and teachers, although there is less evidence of the latter. Although the recent circumplex model provides a fine-grained picture of the different (de)motivating teaching styles (i.e., autonomy support, structure, control, and chaos) that physical education (PE) teachers can use in their lessons, no previous motivational training programs have been based on this model. Moreover, all SDT-training programs have been implemented through different group sessions, but individual sessions have not been delivered. This study outlines the protocol of a motivational training program, derived from the circumplex model, designed to enhance motivating teaching styles (and prevent or decrease demotivating teaching styles) among PE teachers. Consequently, this program seeks to improve motivational variables and influence (mal)adaptive outcomes in both teachers and students. A randomised controlled trial design with a mixed-method approach. At least 16 secondary PE teachers will be assigned to either an experimental group or a control group, together with some of their students. The training program comprises four face-to-face group sessions and two follow-up sessions (one individual and one group session). PE teachers will learn how to support autonomy and provide structure, as well as to be less controlling and chaotic towards students. Over approximately five months, teachers will implement these motivational strategies during their PE classes. Different (de)motivating teaching styles, motivational variables, and (mal)adaptive outcomes will be assessed in both PE teachers and their students at three distinct points: before the training program (T1), during the intervention (T2), and at the end of the intervention (T3). Additionally, two discussion groups involving all experimental PE teachers will be held (one following the training program and another at the end of the intervention). The results from this study could be useful for developing motivational training programs for in-service PE teachers. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier [NTC06479369].

Efectos de un programa de intervención escolar para promover el desplazamiento activo en bicicleta de los adolescentes / Effects of a School-Based Intervention Program to Promote Adolescents' Active Commuting by Cycling / Efeitos de um programa de intervenção escolar para promover o ciclismo ativo entre adolescentes

Resumen: Objetivo: El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar los efectos de un programa escolar sobre la satisfacción de la competencia y la predisposición a participar en una Unidad Didáctica (UD) de bicicleta todo terreno (BTT) en Educación Física, así como el estado de la conducta de desplazarse en bicicleta. Método: Se realizó un diseño cuasiexperimental, sin grupo control, en el que participaron 98 estudiantes españoles (M=13.95±0.67; 50% chicas) de un centro educativo. El programa de intervención, basado en estrategias de apoyo a la competencia, consistió en una UD de BTT (12 sesiones), el plan de acción tutorial (4 sesiones) y una actividad extraescolar. Resultados: Se encontró un incremento en la satisfacción de competencia (únicamente en los chicos) y la predisposición hacia la UD de BTT en los dos géneros. Asimismo, se incrementó en un 39 % en los chicos y 43 % en las chicas, los estados de "Acción" y "Mantenimiento" en la conducta de desplazarse en bicicleta. Conclusión: Este programa multicomponente, basado en estrategias de apoyo a la competencia, parece ser efectivo para promover el desplazamiento activo en bicicleta entre los adolescentes.

Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a school-based intervention program on competence satisfaction, the predisposition to participate in a cycling Didactic Unit (DU) in Physical Education, and the behavior of commuting by bicycle. Method: The study had a quasi-experimental design without a control group, in which 98 Spanish students (M=13.95±0.67; 50% girls) from a high school participated. The intervention program based on supporting competence consisted of a cycling DU (12 sessions), a tutorial action plan (4 sessions), and an extracurricular activity. Results: An increase in competence satisfaction was found only in boys, and the predisposition towards cycling DU was found in both genders. Likewise, the states of "Action" and "Maintenance" in the behavior of commuting by bicycle increased by 39% in boys and 43% in girls. Conclusion: This multi-component program based on strategies to support competence effectively promotes active bicycle commuting among adolescents.

Resumo: Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo era avaliar os efeitos de um programa escolar sobre a satisfação com a competição e a predisposição para participar de uma Unidade Didática (UD) relativa ao ciclismo de montanha (MTB) em Educação Física, bem como o estado do comportamento do ciclista. Métodos: noventa e oito estudantes espanhóis (M=13,95±0,67; 50% meninas) de uma escola participaram de um projeto quase experimental, sem grupo de controle. O programa de intervenção, baseado em estratégias de apoio à competência, consistiu em um MTB UD (12 sessões), o plano de ação tutorial (4 sessões) e uma atividade extracurricular. Resultados: Encontramos um aumento na satisfação com a competência (somente em meninos) e predisposição para a MTB em ambos os sexos. Além disso, os estados de "Ação" e "Manutenção" no comportamento ciclístico aumentaram em 39% nos meninos e 43% nas meninas. Conclusão: Este programa multicomponente, baseado em estratégias de apoio à competência, parece ser eficaz na promoção do ciclismo ativo entre os adolescentes.

A Community-Based Participatory Action Research with Women from Disadvantaged Populations: Strengths and Weaknesses of a Multiple Health Behaviour Change Intervention.

Disadvantaged populations usually adopt risk behaviours, resulting in obesity and mental health-related disorders. Grounded in the socioecological model and self-determination theory, the aims were firstly to describe and implement a two-year multiple health behaviour change intervention, and secondly, to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the intervention. In total, 11 women from a disadvantaged population participated in this programme, which encompassed 117 sessions. Qualitative techniques were used to collect data and a thematic analysis was conducted. The variety of activities and the group-based intervention were the main strengths, and the decrease in attendance and the programme's tight schedule were the main weaknesses. This is the first intervention in a disadvantaged population mainly comprised of Roma women. The design described in detail and its assessment provide relevant knowledge to improve their health status and decrease inequalities. The practical implications for future research are useful for replicating interventions in similar contexts.

The Influence of the Coach's Autonomy Support and Controlling Behaviours on Motivation and Sport Commitment of Youth Soccer Players.

The coach is one of the most influential agents in the sport commitment of youth players. Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), numerous studies have examined the influence of the coach's autonomy-supportive behaviours on athletes' motivation. However, fewer studies have examined the influence of the coach's controlling behaviours. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyse the influence of young soccer players' perception of their coach's autonomy-supportive and controlling behaviours on the satisfaction and frustration of their basic psychological needs (BPN) and sport commitment. A total of 203 soccer players (86% boys), aged 10-19 years (M = 14.88; SD = 1.54) participated. Coach autonomy support positively predicted BPN satisfaction which, in turn, positively explained sport commitment. Coach intimidation behaviours positively predicted BPN frustration, which, in turn, negatively explained sport commitment. In cross-relationships, autonomy support negatively explained BPN frustration, while intimidation behaviours and the controlling use of rewards negatively predicted BPN satisfaction. To conclude, these results suggest that it is important for the coach not only to support autonomy, but also to avoid the use of controlling behaviours, especially intimidation and controlling use of rewards, because of their influence on the motivational processes and sport commitment of youth soccer players.

Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of a Scale to Measure Perceived External and Internal Faces of Controlling Teaching among Students in Physical Education.

There are no validated instruments to date that have examined the students' perceptions of externally and internally controlling teaching practices in physical education (PE). Grounded in self-determination theory, the objective of this research was to provide validity and reliability evidence of the Controlling Teaching Scale for Physical Education (CTS-PE) to assess the external and internal faces of controlling teaching in PE through two sequential studies. In Study 1 (n = 241 students), an exploratory factor analysis revealed an eight-item two-factor solution (four items per factor). In Study 2 (n = 968 students), a confirmatory factor analysis supported the eight-item two-factor correlated model (i.e., externally and internally controlling teaching) that was invariant across gender. Reliability coefficients indicated an acceptable level of reliability for the two factors of the CTS-PE. A structural equation modelling showed that externally and internally controlling teaching behaviours positively predicted need frustration, and negatively need satisfaction. The current study gathered evidence to consider the CTS-PE as a valid and reliable instrument to assess students' perceptions of PE teachers' externally and internally controlling teaching behaviours. The CTS-PE provides PE teachers with deeper insights into the negative psychological experiences associated with externally and internally controlling teaching behaviours in PE.

A Hybrid TGfU/SE Volleyball Teaching Unit for Enhancing Motivation in Physical Education: A Mixed-Method Approach.

Grounded in self-determination theory, this pre-experimental study analyzed the effects of a hybrid teaching games for understanding/sport education (TGfU/SE) volleyball teaching unit on students' motivational outcomes, using a mixed-method approach. It also examined whether the intervention was equally effective for boys and girls. Participants were 53 secondary school students (Mage = 15.50, SDage = 0.57) who were taught through a hybrid TGfU/SE unit. The structure of this unit was designed according to the characteristics of SE model, while learning tasks were designed by using the pedagogical principles of TGfU model. Both self-reported validated questionnaires and focus groups were used before and after intervention to assess students' motivational responses. After the hybrid TGfU/SE unit, both quantitative and qualitative findings showed improvements in students' perceptions of need-support from the physical education (PE) teacher, basic psychological needs satisfaction, novelty, and variety satisfaction, as well as intrinsic motivation compared to baseline values. Although the hybrid TGfU/SE unit was effective in both genders, a large effect size was found for girls. Despite the existence of social and cultural stereotypes in team sports such as volleyball in favor of boys, results highlight the importance of developing hybrid TGfU/SE units to improve students' motivational outcomes, especially in girls.

Patrones de desplazamiento al centro educativo en adolescentes de Huesca / Commuting patterns to school in adolescents from Huesca

El objetivo del estudio fue describir el tipo de desplazamiento utilizado por los adolescentes de Huesca para ir y volver del centro educativo, así como analizar su asociación con el género y el curso académico. Participaron 1.709 adolescentes (Medad=14.20; DT=1.56; 51.7% chicas) de 1º de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO) a 1º de Bachillerato. Los estudiantes cumplimentaron un cuestionario sobre el modo habitual de desplazamiento en la ida y vuelta al instituto. Los resultados señalaron que un 76.4% de los adolescentes se desplazaba activamente (i.e., andando o en bicicleta) tanto en la ida como en la vuelta. De los adolescentes que se desplazaban activamente, un 78.5% en la ida y un 81.7% en la vuelta lo hacía caminando. En relación con el género, se encontró una asociación positiva entre ir andando al centro educativo y ser chica, así como entre ir en bicicleta y ser chico. En relación con el curso académico, desplazarse andando al centro educativo se asoció positivamente con 4º de ESO y negativamente con 1º de Bachillerato. Asimismo, desplazarse en bicicleta se asoció positivamente con 1º de Bachillerato y negativamente con 3º de ESO. Aunque la mayoría de los adolescentes se desplaza activamente al instituto, parece necesario promover programas escolares que incentiven el desplazamiento activo de los jóvenes dada las características favorables de movilidad de la ciudad de Huesca. De igual modo, parece necesaria la promoción de la bicicleta como modo de desplazamiento al instituto, especialmente en las chicas y en los estudiantes de ESO

The aim of this study was to describe the usual mode of commuting to and from school in adolescents of Huesca and its association with gender and academic year. A total of 1,709 adolescents (Mage=14.20; DT=1.56; 51.7% girls) from 1st-year of middle school [Spanish acronym, ESO] to 1st-year high school) participated in this study. A questionnaire of the usual mode of commuting to and from school was self-reported by students. Results showed that 76.4% of adolescents commuted actively (i.e., walking or cycling) to and from school. Of the adolescents who commute actively to and from school, 78.5% to school and 81.7% from school walked. Regarding gender, a positive association was found between walking to and from school and being a girl, as well as between cycling and being a boy. Regarding the grade level, walking to and from school was positively associated with adolescents in 4th of middle school and negatively with 1st-year high school. On the other hand, travelling by bicycle both routes was positively associated with 1st-year of high school and negatively with 3rd year of middle school. Although the majority of adolescents from Huesca commuted actively to and from school, it seems that active school transport interventions are necessary, given the favorable characteristics of the city of Huesca. Similarly, it seems necessary to promote cycling as a means of transport to and from school, especially among girls and secondary education students

Active or Passive Commuter? Discrepancies in Cut-off Criteria among Adolescents.

Active commuting to school has health implications for young people. Previous research has shown the need to consistently define the concept of "active commuter", given that assessment as well as comparison between studies may be hindered by current discrepancies in frequency criteria. Using a sample of 158 Spanish students (12th-13th grade, 60.8% girls), the current study aimed to compare several cut-off criteria to rigorously identify the frequency of weekly active trips to school in order to categorize adolescents as active or passive commuters, and to analyze whether the threshold living distance to school is associated with the different trip cut-off criteria. Percentages of active commuters ranged from 75% to 88.6%, varying significantly depending on the cut-off criteria (5-10 active trips/week) used. The results also support the need to be stricter in the selection of a cut-off criterion when the distance to the school becomes shorter. Our findings highlight the importance of following a standard criterion to classify individuals as active or passive commuters, considering the characteristics of the context in which each study is conducted.

How Should Stressors Be Examined in Teachers? Answering Questions about Dimensionality, Generalizability and Predictive Effects Using the Multicontext Stressors Scale.

Using the Multicontext Stressors Scale (MSS), this study investigates which factorial structure should be used to measure teacher stressors, and the extent to which this factorial structure of MSS remains invariant across gender. Subsequently, grounded in self-determination theory, the present study also examines the extent to which stressors may differentially predict teachers' psychological functioning. Participants were 584 (Mage = 45.04; SD = 8.97) secondary school teachers. Goodness-of-fit indices and estimated parameters of the models, together with latent correlations between stressors, offered support for the six-factor structure, whereas the opposite was true for the one-factor structure of the MSS. Results also supported gender invariance of the MSS. Predictive findings showed that student misbehavior, lack of shared decision-making, and workload stressors are negatively related to basic psychological needs. Likewise, results noted the important role of basic psychological needs to reach optimal teachers' psychological functioning. The results are discussed, arguing the importance of assessing and analyzing teacher stressors using a multifactorial and invariant scale. From a more practical approach, it seems important for school leaders to be especially vigilant about all stressors. Nonetheless, if they desire to prevent detrimental psychological functioning in teachers, special attention should be placed on stressors related to student misbehavior, lack of shared decision-making, and workload.

Healthy or Unhealthy? The Cocktail of Health-Related Behavior Profiles in Spanish Adolescents.

The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and clustering of health-related behaviors in Spanish adolescents and to examine their association with sex, body mass index (BMI), different types of sedentary screen time, and adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines. A final sample of 173 students (M = 12.99 ± 0.51) participated in this study. Cluster analysis was conducted based on five health-related behaviors: PA and sedentary time derived from accelerometers, as well as healthy diet, sedentary screen time, and sleep duration derived from self-reported scales. Recommendations for 24-hour movement guidelines (i.e., physical activity (PA), screen time, and sleep duration) were analyzed both independently and combined. A total of 8.9% of the sample did not meet any of the guidelines, whereas 72.3%, 17.3%, and 1.7% of the sample met 1, 2, or all 3 guidelines, respectively. Six distinct profiles were identified, most of them showing the co-occurrence of healthy- and unhealthy-related behaviors. Given that most of the adolescents failed to meet the combination of PA, screen time, and sleep duration guidelines, these findings suggest the necessity to implement school-based interventions that target multiple health behaviors, especially because (un)healthy behaviors do not always cluster in the same direction.

Does the Level of Motivation of Physical Education Teachers Matter in Terms of Job Satisfaction and Emotional Exhaustion? A Person-Centered Examination Based on Self-Determination Theory.

Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), prior research has demonstrated that physical education (PE) teachers may have different reasons to engage in teaching. Although some person-centered studies have identified varied motivational profiles in PE teachers, none of these studies have included the three forms of motivation (i.e., autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and amotivation). This study aims to identify teachers' motivational profiles, using the three forms of motivation. Moreover, differences between the obtained profiles in terms of job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion were examined. A sample of 107 primary school PE teachers participated. Four distinct motivational profiles were identified: "relatively amotivated," "somewhat motivated," "autonomous-controlled motivated," and "relatively autonomously motivated." Results showed that the predominantly autonomously motivated PE teachers reported the most adaptive pattern of outcomes. Although PE teachers from the "relatively autonomously motivated" group did not differ in terms of job satisfaction when compared to those in the "autonomous-controlled motivated" group, the former displayed lower values of emotional exhaustion. These findings support SDT in that more motivation is not necessarily better if this additional motivation comes from controlled reasons. These results could raise awareness among school stakeholders about the importance of increasing PE teachers' autonomous motivation.

Can High Schools Be an Effective Setting to Promote Healthy Lifestyles? Effects of a Multiple Behavior Change Intervention in Adolescents.

PURPOSE: The main aim was to examine the effects of a school-based intervention on multiple health behaviors in adolescents, such as 24-hour movement behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep duration), diet, and substance consumption (i.e., alcohol and tobacco). Another aim was to examine intragender differences in the effectiveness of the programme. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was carried out in two secondary schools throughout one academic year. A final sample of 210 students participated: 105 in the control (Mage = 13.07 ± 0.63) and 105 in the experimental school (Mage = 13.05 ± 0.59). A multicomponent school-based intervention was conducted by teachers in the experimental school via curricular (i.e., tutorial action plan, interdisciplinary project, and school break) and extracurricular (i.e., family involvement, institutional and noncurricular activities, and dissemination of health information and events) actions to promote adolescents' healthy lifestyles. Physical activity and sedentary time were measured by accelerometers, and the rest of health behaviors by using self-reported scales. RESULTS: Experimental school students showed a significant improvement in meeting specific and general combinations of 24-hour movement guidelines, sedentary screen time levels, nap duration, (un)healthy diet scores, breakfast intake, and soft drink consumption compared to both control school students and their baseline values (p >.05). Active commuting and substance consumption rates only showed a significant improvement compared to control school students (p >.05). Although the intervention programme was effective in improving health-related behaviors in both genders, a large effect size was observed in boys. CONCLUSIONS: Conducting multiple health behavior interventions becomes essential to improve adolescents' healthy lifestyles.

Which School Community Agents Influence Adolescents' Motivational Outcomes and Physical Activity? Are More Autonomy-Supportive Relationships Necessarily Better?

The first aim of this work was to examine the independent influence of students' perceived autonomy support for leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), from different school community agents, on motivational outcomes in a LTPA context and objective PA levels. Using both a variable- and person-centered approach, the second aim was to examine how different combinations of autonomy-support were associated with students' motivational outcomes in a LTPA context and PA levels. A sample of 178 secondary students (M = 13.26 ± 0.64) participated in the study. Autonomy support for LTPA from the PE teacher, mother, father, and peers were the only agents that significantly and positively predicted motivational outcomes in a LTPA context and PA levels. While the two- and three-way interactions of some of these four significant sources significantly increased the explained variance of some motivational outcomes, the plots revealed that the lowest values of motivational outcomes were associated with low values of perceived autonomy support. A cluster analysis revealed five profiles. The "high autonomy support" group reported the most optimal outcomes, whereas the "low autonomy support" group showed the opposite pattern. However, mixed autonomy support profiles did not differ in any of the outcomes. The adoption of a whole-of-school approach seems decisive to empower adolescents to be active in and out of school.

Validation Evidence of the Motivation for Teaching Scale in Secondary Education.

Grounded in self-determination theory, the aim of this study was to develop a scale with adequate psychometric properties to assess motivation for teaching and to explain some outcomes of secondary education teachers at work. The sample comprised 584 secondary education teachers. Analyses supported the five-factor model (intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, introjected regulation, external regulation and amotivation) and indicated the presence of a continuum of self-determination. Evidence of reliability was provided by Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability and average variance extracted. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses supported the partial invariance (configural and metric) of the scale in different sub-samples, in terms of gender and type of school. Concurrent validity was analyzed by a structural equation modeling that explained 71% of the work dedication variance and 69% of the boredom at work variance. Work dedication was positively predicted by intrinsic motivation (ß = .56, p < .001) and external regulation (ß = .29, p < .001) and negatively predicted by introjected regulation (ß = -.22, p < .001) and amotivation (ß = -.49, p < .001). Boredom at work was negatively predicted by intrinsic motivation (ß = -.28, p < .005) and positively predicted by amotivation (ß = .68, p < .001). The Motivation for Teaching Scale in Secondary Education (Spanish acronym EME-ES, Escala de Motivación por la Enseñanza en Educación Secundaria) is discussed as a valid and reliable instrument. This is the first specific scale in the work context of secondary teachers that has integrated the five-factor structure together with their dedication and boredom at work.

Validation evidence of the motivation for teaching scale in secondary education

Grounded in self-determination theory, the aim of this study was to develop a scale with adequate psychometric properties to assess motivation for teaching and to explain some outcomes of secondary education teachers at work. The sample comprised 584 secondary education teachers. Analyses supported the five-factor model (intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, introjected regulation, external regulation and amotivation) and indicated the presence of a continuum of self-determination. Evidence of reliability was provided by Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability and average variance extracted. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses supported the partial invariance (configural and metric) of the scale in different sub-samples, in terms of gender and type of school. Concurrent validity was analyzed by a structural equation modeling that explained 71% of the work dedication variance and 69% of the boredom at work variance. Work dedication was positively predicted by intrinsic motivation (ß = .56, p < .001) and external regulation (ß = .29, p < .001) and negatively predicted by introjected regulation (ß = -.22, p < .001) and amotivation (ß = -.49, p < .001). Boredom at work was negatively predicted by intrinsic motivation (ß = -.28, p < .005) and positively predicted by amotivation (ß = .68, p < .001). The Motivation for Teaching Scale in Secondary Education (Spanish acronym EME-ES, Escala de Motivación por la Enseñanza en Educación Secundaria) is discussed as a valid and reliable instrument. This is the first specific scale in the work context of secondary teachers that has integrated the five-factor structure together with their dedication and boredom at work

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