Associations between Weight Status and Situational Motivation toward Fitness Testing in Physical Education: The Mediator Role of Physical Fitness.

Abstract

This article examines the differences in situational motivation toward fitness testing in physical education classes between non-overweight and overweight students, as well as the mediator effect of objective and perceived physical fitness on the relationship between weight status and motivation toward fitness testing. A total of 534 adolescents (298 boys, 55.80%) participated in the study. Perceived physical fitness and situational motivation toward fitness testing were measured through questionnaires, whereas weight status and physical fitness were objectively measured. Overweight students had lower intrinsic motivation (p Strategies to improve objective and perceived physical fitness in overweight students are necessary to increase self-determined motivation during fitness testing in physical education lesson.