Motivational constructs in Greek physical education classes: Factor structure, gender and age effects in a nationally representative longitudinal sample

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluates the construct validity of a profile of 11 motivational constructs (Task and Ego Orientation, Task‐ and Ego‐involving Climates; Intrinsic Motivation Enjoyment; Intrinsic Motivation Effort; Exercise Attitudes; Exercise Intentions; Perceived Behavioral Control; Actual Exercise Behavior; and Physical Self‐concept) appropriate for applied sport/exercise settings. A nationally representative sample of Greek students (2786, 50% males) from 200 physical education classes at different levels of schooling (29% upper primary, 36% middle, and 35% high school) completed the same battery of tests at the start and end of the school year. Despite the brevity of some of the measures (11 scales, 46 items) dictated by the large scale of the study, reliability estimates were mostly adequate (Md α = .82 at time 1, .86 at time 2).Confirmatory factor analyses of the combined set of time 1 and time 2 responses provided an excellent fit to the data (RMSEA = .034) and moderate test‐retest correlations (.37 to .64; Md = .55). Most outcomes decreased with age. Whereas boys had higher scores on most constructs, there were no gender differences for Task Orientation and Task‐involving Climate, and girls had slightly more positive attitudes toward exercise. The psychometric results and patterns of relations among constructs provide good support for the construct validity of the measures