Temporal relationship between intrinsic motivations in physical education and in a leisure-time context

Abstract

This study examined the temporal relationships between intrinsic motivation in physical education and in leisure time context over two year period. The stability, stationary and cross-lagged effects of the relationship between these variables over the two-year period was tested. Participants, 94 students (37 boys and 57 girls) aged 14–16 years (M14.9±0.90) at the beginning of the study, completed measures of intrinsic motivation in both contexts. The model indicated to the existence of significant impact from intrinsic motivation in physical education on intrinsic motivation in a leisure-time context but not in vice verse. The results showed that the degree of stability in intrinsic motivation in physical education was higher than in leisure time context over two year period. Additionally, the existence of stationary of the relationship between these variables was followed on both timepoints. This study demonstrated that intrinsic motivation in physical education is not affected by the previous intrinsic motivation in leisure time context.