The role of prosocial climate and gender in the relationships between social goals and enjoyment in physical education students

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17398/1885-7019.22.277

Keywords:

adolescents, school climate, motivation, mediation analysis, gender

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of prosocial climate in the relationship between social goals and enjoyment in Physical Education, also considering gender as a moderating variable. A total of 392 secondary school students participated, aged between 14 and 16 years (M = 15.07; SD = 0.78). An associative and explanatory design was employed, using a mediation model with gender as a moderator to analyse the relationships between variables. Data were collected using the Social Goals Scale – Physical Education, the Prosocial School Climate Questionnaire, and the Intrinsic Satisfaction in Sport Instrument. Mediation analyses revealed a significant mediating effect of prosocial climate on the relationships between the social goals of responsibility and relationship with enjoyment in Physical Education. No significant moderating effect of gender was found in the proposed mediation model. These findings suggest that the relationship between social goals and enjoyment in Physical Education is partly explained by the prosocial climate within the classroom, thereby underscoring the importance of positive social interactions among students in fostering enjoyable learning experiences in Physical Education.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Agbuga, B., Xiang, P., & McBride, R. E. (2015). Relationship between Achievement Goals and Students’ Self-Reported Personal and Social Responsibility Behaviors. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 18, E22. https://doi.org/10.1017/sjp.2015.26

Allen, J. B. (2003). Social motivation in youth sport. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 25(4), 551-567. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.25.4.551

Ato, M., López-García, J. J., & Benavente, A. (2013). Un sistema de clasificación de los diseños de investigación en psicología. Anales de Psicología, 29(3), 1038-1059. https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps.29.3.178511

Beni, S., Fletcher, T., & Ní Chróinín, D. (2017). Meaningful experiences in physical education and youth sport: A review of the literature. Quest, 69(3), 291-312. https://doi.org/10.80/00336297.2016.1224192.

Biddle, S. J. H., Ciaccioni, S., Thomas, G., & Vergeer, I. (2019). Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: An updated review of reviews and an analysis of causality. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 42, 146-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. psychsport.2018.08.011

Cecchini Estrada, J. A., González González de Mesa, C., Méndez Giménez, A., and J. Fernández Río (2011). Achievement Goals, Social Goals, and Motivational Regulations in Physical Education Settings. Psicothema, 23(1), 51–57.

Cheon, S. H., Reeve, J., and H. W. Marsh (2023). Autonomy-Supportive Teaching Enhances Prosocial and Reduces Antisocial Behavior via Classroom Climate and Psychological Needs: A Multilevel Randomized Control Intervention." Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 45(1), 26-40. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2021-0337

Domínguez, J. D., Gurrola, O. C., Reyna, M. C. E., Rodríguez, R. E. M., & Hernández, D. E. C. (2026). Validación de la escala de relaciones interpersonales en el deporte en estudiantes de bachillerato. E-Balonmano. com: Revista de Ciencias del Deporte, 22(1), 143-154. https://doi.org/10.17398/1885-7019.22.143

Ellinger, J., Mess, F., Bachner, J., von Au, J., & Mall, C. (2023). Changes in social interaction, social Relatedness, and friendships in Education Outside the Classroom: A social network analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1031693. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1031693

Engels, E. S., & Freund, P. A. (2020). Effects of cooperative games on Enjoyment in physical education—How to increase positive experiences in students?. PLoS One, 15(12), e0243608. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243608

Evans, J. D. (1996). Straightforward statistics for the behavioral sciences. Thomson Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

Fernández-Río, J., Méndez-Giménez, A., Cecchini, J. A., & de Mesa, C. G. (2012). Achievement Goals and Social Goals’ Influence on Physical Education Students’ Fair Play. Revista de Psicodidáctica, 17(1), 73-91.

Flores-Piñero, M. D. C., Valdivia-Moral, P., Ramos-Mondejar, L., & González-Hernández, J. (2024). Motivational Climate, Physical Self-Concept, and Social Relationships in Adolescents in Physical Education Classes: A Systematic Review. Education Sciences, 14(2), 199. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14020199

Franco, E., Coterón, J., & Spray, C. (2025). Antecedents of teachers’ motivational behaviours in physical education: A scoping review utilising achievement goal and self-determination theory perspectives. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 18(2), 1123-1162. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2024.2366835

García-González, L., Santed, M., Escolano-Pérez, E., & Fernández-Río, J. (2023). High-versus low-structured cooperative learning in secondary physical education: Impact on Prosocial behaviours at different ages. European Physical Education Review, 29(2), 199-214. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X2211327

Garn, A. C., & Wallhead, T. (2015). Social goals and basic psychological needs in high school physical education. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 4 (2), 88-99. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000029

Gu, Y., & Cheng, L. (2025). A systematic review and meta-analysis of motivational climate and youth sport outcomes: examining a hierarchical effects model. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1716745. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1716745

Guan, J., McBride, R. E., & Xiang, P. (2006a). Reliability and validity evidence for the Social Goal Scale-Physical Education (SGS-PE) in high school settings. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 25(2), 226-239. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.25.2.226

Guan, J., Xiang, P., McBride, R., & Bruene, A. (2006b). Achievement goals, social goals, and students’ reported persistence and effort in high school physical education. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 25(1), 58-74. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.25.1.58

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2018). Multivariate data analysis. Hampshire, UK: Cengage Learning Emea. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119409137.ch4

Hayes, A. F. (2018). Partial, conditional, and moderated moderated mediation: Quantification, inference, and interpretation. Communication Monographs, 85(1), 4-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2017.1352100

Hernández-Martos, J., Morales-Sánchez, V., Monteiro, D., Franquelo, M. A., Pérez-López, R., Hernández-Mendo, A., & Reigal, R. E. (2024). Examination of associations across transformational teacher leadership, motivational orientation, Enjoyment, and boredom in physical education students. European Physical Education Review, 30(2), 194-211. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X231194568

Hodge, K., Chow, G. M., Luzzeri, M., Scanlan, T., & Scanlan, L. (2023). Commitment in sport: Motivational climate, need satisfaction/thwarting and behavioural outcomes. Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 3(2), 121-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajsep.2023.03.004

Jackman, P. C., Dargue, E. J., Johnston, J. P., & Hawkins, R. M. (2021). Flow in youth sport, physical activity, and physical education: A systematic review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 53, 101852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101852

King, R. B., & Mendoza, N. B. (2021). The social contagion of students' social goals and its influence on engagement in school. Learning and Individual Differences, 88, 102004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2021.102004

Kipp, L. E., & Bolter, N. D. (2024). Motivational climate dimensions predict youth soccer players’ psychosocial well-being over time. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 70, 102518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102518

Min, L., & Kawabata, M. (2022). Perception of boredom in physical education lessons: What factors are associated with students’ boredom experiences? Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 41(4), 710–719. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2021-0090

Milton, D., Appleton, P. R., Quested, E., Bryant, A., & Duda, J. L. (2025). Examining the mediating role of motivation in the Relationships between teacher-created motivational climates and quality of engagement in secondary school physical education. PloS one, 20(1), e0316729. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316729

Moreno Murcia, J. A., González-Cutre Coll, D., and Á. Sicilia Camacho (2007). Metas sociales en las clases de Educación Física. Análisis y Modificación de Conducta, 33(149), 351-368.

Moreno Murcia, J. A., Hernández, A., & González Cutre, D. (2009). Complementando la teoría de la autodeterminación con las metas sociales: un estudio sobre la diversión en educación física. Revista Mexicana de Psicología, 26, 213-222.

Navarro, J., Escobar, P., Miragall, M., Cebolla, A., & Baños, R. M. (2021). Adolescent motivation toward physical exercise: The role of sex, age, enjoyment, and anxiety. Psychological Reports, 124(3), 1049-1069. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294120922490

Nicholls, J. G. (1984). Achievement motivation: Conceptions of ability, subjective experience, task choice, and performance. Psychological Review, 91(3), 328-346. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.91.3.328

Opstoel, K., Chapelle, L., Prins, F. J., De Meester, A., Haerens, L., Van Tartwijk, J., & De Martelaer, K. (2020). Personal and social development in physical education and sports: A review study. European Physical Education Review, 26(4), 797-813. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X19882054

Peers, C., Issartel, J., Behan, S., O'Connor, N., & Belton, S. (2020). Movement competence: Association with physical self-efficacy and physical activity. Human Movement Science, 70, 102582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2020.102582

Reigal, R. E., Hernández-Martos, J., Monteiro, D., Pérez-López, R., Hernández-Mendo, A., & Morales-Sánchez, V. (2024). Motivational orientation, boredom and fun in physical education: The mediation role of self-esteem and motor self-efficacy. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 131(3), 998-1019. https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125241242147

Rodríguez Macías, M., Abad Robles, M. T., & Giménez Fuentes-Guerra, F. J. (2021). Effects of sport teaching on Students' Enjoyment and fun: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 708155. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.708155

Sabiston, C. M., Doré, I., Lucibello, K. M., Pila, E., Brunet, J., Thibault, V., & Bélanger, M. (2022). Body image self-conscious emotions get worse throughout adolescence and relate to physical activity behavior in girls and boys. Social science & medicine, 315, 115543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115543

Sánchez-García, C., Morales-Sánchez, V., Reigal, R. E., & Hernández-Mendo, A. (2024). Relaciones entre el Liderazgo Transformacional del profesor y las experiencias óptimas de adolescentes en Educación Física: una revisión sistemática. Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte, 24(3), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.6018/cpd.623711

The Jamovi Project (2022). Jamovi. (Version 2.3) [Computer Software]. https://www.jamovi.org

Timo, J., Sami, Y. P., Anthony, W., & Jarmo, L. (2016). Perceived physical competence towards physical activity, and motivation and Enjoyment in physical education as longitudinal predictors of adolescents’ self-reported physical activity. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 19(9), 750–754. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2015.11.003

Towlson, C., Cumming, S., Donnan, K., & Toner, J. (2025). The effect of maturation on children's experience of physical education: Lessons learned from academy sport. European Physical Education Review, 31(1), 129-146. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X241251654

Wallhead, T. L., Garn, A. C., & Vidoni, C. (2013). Sport Education and social goals in physical education: Relationships with Enjoyment, Relatedness, and leisure-time physical activity. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 18(4), 427-441. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2012.690377

Viholainen, H., Aro, T., Purtsi, J., Tolvanen, A., & Cantell, M. (2014). Adolescents' school‐related self‐concept mediates motor skills and psychosocial well‐being. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 84(2), 268-280. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12023

Williams, J., & MacKinnon, D. P. (2008). Resampling and distribution of the Product methods for testing indirect effects in complex models. Structural Equation Modeling: a Multidisciplinary Journal, 15(1), 23-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705510701758166

World Medical Association. (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical Research involving human subjects. Jama, 310(20), 2191-2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053

Downloads

Published

2026-09-01

How to Cite

The role of prosocial climate and gender in the relationships between social goals and enjoyment in physical education students. (2026). E-Balonmano Com, Journal of Sports Science, 22(2), 277-288. https://doi.org/10.17398/1885-7019.22.277