Longitudinal changes and predictors of adolescents’ enjoyment in physical education

Abstract

Longitudinal studies on adolescents’ enjoyment in physical education (PE) are lacking. This study examined students’ self-reported enjoyment and predictors of enjoyment in PE in school among students from age 14 to 19, using questionnaires and interviews. From the results, enjoyment in PE increases among girls during high school, while students that participate weekly in organized sport report greater enjoyment in PE than those who are not, at the age of 14; but there is no such group difference in high school. Furthermore, the findings from the interview analysis highlight the importance of greater autonomy in high school.