Testing the model of motivational climate, goal orientations, expectancy beliefs, task values in school physical education, and associated links to light- to vigorous-intensity physical activity

The purpose of the study was to examine the model of motivational climate, goal orientations, expectancy beliefs, task values, and associated links to light- to vigorous-intensity physical activity in order to understand the social-cognitive motivational processes in physical education. The results mainly supported existing suggestions of Vallerand’s hierarchical model of motivation, since task-involving motivational climate mediated by expectancy beliefs was linked to light-intensity physical activity. An unexpected finding was that task-involving motivational climate in physical education directly related only with light-intensity activity. The present findings support the task-involving teaching methods in physical education to promote children’s total physical activity, especially light-intensity activity through beliefs about ability.