The Influence of Perceived Autonomy Support on Physical Activity Among High School Students: The Mediating Roles of Basic Psychological Needs

Parental and peer support has been documented as an important factor in physical activities among high school students. Likewise, coach support has an important impact on physical activity among high school students. Meanwhile, many studies show that basic psychological needs have an essential effec...

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Main Authors: Zhou Wanwan, Ahmad Zamri Khairani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Behavioral Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/4/536
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author Zhou Wanwan
Ahmad Zamri Khairani
author_facet Zhou Wanwan
Ahmad Zamri Khairani
author_sort Zhou Wanwan
collection DOAJ
description Parental and peer support has been documented as an important factor in physical activities among high school students. Likewise, coach support has an important impact on physical activity among high school students. Meanwhile, many studies show that basic psychological needs have an essential effect on perceived autonomy and physical activity. As such, this study, using self-determination theory, aimed to explore the mediating role of basic psychological needs on physical activity among high school students in China. The Sport Climate Questionnaire, Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise Scale—Physical Activity, and the three-item Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 were employed to gauge responses from 736 high school students (15–18 years old). A structural equation model was employed to test the mediating effect. The researchers found a significant positive effect of perceived coach support on basic psychological need satisfaction. Basic psychological need satisfaction was also found to be a significant predictor of physical activity. Surprisingly, the results showed that perceived coach support negatively influences physical activity. As such, an indirect mediating effect is established. Basic psychological needs had an indirect mediating effect and could reduce the negative effect of coach support on physical activity engagement.
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spelling doaj-art-7474b9beb24f45c2a8ca54d851c0a1e42025-08-20T02:17:20ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-04-0115453610.3390/bs15040536The Influence of Perceived Autonomy Support on Physical Activity Among High School Students: The Mediating Roles of Basic Psychological NeedsZhou Wanwan0Ahmad Zamri Khairani1School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town 11800, Penang, MalaysiaSchool of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town 11800, Penang, MalaysiaParental and peer support has been documented as an important factor in physical activities among high school students. Likewise, coach support has an important impact on physical activity among high school students. Meanwhile, many studies show that basic psychological needs have an essential effect on perceived autonomy and physical activity. As such, this study, using self-determination theory, aimed to explore the mediating role of basic psychological needs on physical activity among high school students in China. The Sport Climate Questionnaire, Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise Scale—Physical Activity, and the three-item Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 were employed to gauge responses from 736 high school students (15–18 years old). A structural equation model was employed to test the mediating effect. The researchers found a significant positive effect of perceived coach support on basic psychological need satisfaction. Basic psychological need satisfaction was also found to be a significant predictor of physical activity. Surprisingly, the results showed that perceived coach support negatively influences physical activity. As such, an indirect mediating effect is established. Basic psychological needs had an indirect mediating effect and could reduce the negative effect of coach support on physical activity engagement.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/4/536perceived autonomy supportbasic psychological needsphysical activitymediating effect
spellingShingle Zhou Wanwan
Ahmad Zamri Khairani
The Influence of Perceived Autonomy Support on Physical Activity Among High School Students: The Mediating Roles of Basic Psychological Needs
Behavioral Sciences
perceived autonomy support
basic psychological needs
physical activity
mediating effect
title The Influence of Perceived Autonomy Support on Physical Activity Among High School Students: The Mediating Roles of Basic Psychological Needs
title_full The Influence of Perceived Autonomy Support on Physical Activity Among High School Students: The Mediating Roles of Basic Psychological Needs
title_fullStr The Influence of Perceived Autonomy Support on Physical Activity Among High School Students: The Mediating Roles of Basic Psychological Needs
title_full_unstemmed The Influence of Perceived Autonomy Support on Physical Activity Among High School Students: The Mediating Roles of Basic Psychological Needs
title_short The Influence of Perceived Autonomy Support on Physical Activity Among High School Students: The Mediating Roles of Basic Psychological Needs
title_sort influence of perceived autonomy support on physical activity among high school students the mediating roles of basic psychological needs
topic perceived autonomy support
basic psychological needs
physical activity
mediating effect
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/4/536
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