Testing a model of physical education enjoyment and physical activity among high school students

The importance of physical education (PE) enjoyment in promoting adolescent participation in physical activity (PA) is generally recognized. However, research findings indicate a !-onsistent decline in enjoyment of PE among students, especially high school students. This decline has been partly attributed to a lack of understanding of the processes that underlie enjoyment of PE. Utilizing a framework of sport enjoyment proposed by Scanlan and Lewthwaite (1986), the present study examined a model of PE enjoyment processes and PA involvement among adolescents aged ll to 16 years. The sample consisted of 203 Westem Australian adolescents (Mean age = 13.5, SD = 0.98). Participants completed self-report measures of PE teaching processes and PAinvolvement. The model was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. The results revealed an acceptable measurement fit of the model i /-: = 46.21, df = 19, p <.001; RMR = .03; CFI = .97; RMSEA =-08). Furthermore, significant unstandardized regression weights s'ere also obtained for all of the paths loadings indicating a good structural fit. The model was also tested for group invariance. The results revealed a nonsignificant model invariance between male and female samples (rxt = 5.3,p = .51).The findings support the notion that PE enjoyment is important in promoting adolescent PA. To promote PE enjoyment, we believe that certain number of processes, particularly activity-related excitement, should be sonsidered when structuring the PE program