Motor self-efficacy, Physical Education and Spanish adolescence

• Published in: Retos (Madrid) 2024-01, Vol.60 (60), p.34-39
• Main Authors: Galán Arroyo, María del Carmen, Rojo Ramos, Jorge, Castillo Retamal, Franklin, Flores Ferro, Elizabeth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actividad Física; Adolescent; Adolescente; Autoeficacia motriz; Educación Física; efficacy; Motor self; Motor self-efficacy, Adolescent, Physical Activity, Physical Education, Secondary School; Physical Activity; Physical Education; Secondary School; Secundaria
• ISSN: 1579-1726; 1988-2041; 1988-2041
• DOI: 10.47197/retos.v60.107672

Adolescence is an important period in human development, and physical education can play a vital role in promoting healthy habits that improve overall well-being. One factor contributing to the success of physical education programmes is motor self-efficacy. That is, self-confidence in one's own ability to perform physical tasks can influence adolescents' engagement and performance in PE, thus improving their overall health, as it can affect their level of physical activity and subsequently impact on their health outcomes. Aim: To analyse motor self-efficacy in Physical Education as a function of sex and educational environment in Spanish adolescents. Methodology: 1155 students (52.2% girls and 48.8% boys) were administered the Motor Self-Efficacy Scale (E-AEM). The Mann-Whitney U test was used for the analysis. Results: Significant sex differences were found in all E-AEM items, with boys scoring higher in motor self-efficacy than girls. In terms of environment, a significant difference was found in one E-AEM item, with adolescents from rural environments being more self-efficient in passing tests in Physical Education classes than adolescents from urban environments. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of taking contextual and gender differences into account when designing interventions to improve Physical Education and motor self-efficacy in adolescents in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle. La adolescencia es un periodo importante en el desarrollo humano, y la educación física puede desempeñar un papel vital en la promoción de hábitos saludables que mejoren el bienestar general. Un factor que contribuye al éxito de los programas de Educación Física es la autoeficacia motriz. Es decir, la autoconfianza en la propia capacidad para realizar tareas físicas puede influir en el compromiso y el rendimiento de los adolescentes en Educación Física, mejorando así su salud general, ya que puede afectar a su nivel de actividad física y, posteriormente, repercutir en sus resultados en materia de salud. Objetivo: Analizar la autoeficacia motriz en Educación Física, en función del sexo y el entorno educativo en adolescentes españoles. Metodología: A 1155 estudiantes (52.2% chicas and 48.8% chicos) se les realizó la escala de Autoeficacia motriz (E-AEM). Para su análisis, se utilizó el test U de Mann-Whitney. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias significativas por sexo en todos los ítems de E-AEM, obteniendo los chicos mejor puntuación en autoefica