Network analysis of physical activity and depressive and affective symptoms during COVID-19 home confinement

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to analyze the network structure of physical activity, frequency, depressive, and affective symptoms in people under home isolation due to COVID-19.

METHOD

A longitudinal study was conducted in two phases (beginning (March 19, 2020) and end of home confinement (April 8, 2020)). The sample consisted of 579 participants from Spain (250 men and 329 women) aged 16 to 92 years (overall sample: M = 47.06, SD = 14.52). A network analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Four clusters emerged (PA, depressive symptoms, positive affect, and negative affect). A higher frequency of physical activity was related to better-sustained attention, increased alertness, and enthusiasm. In addition, feelings of guilt and shame were mitigated, and confinement distress and irritability were reduced. Physical activity also mitigated fatigue in women, whereas feelings of unhappiness were reduced in men.

CONCLUSION

Physical activity seems to be an effective option for mitigating the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health policymakers should develop programs to promote physical activity in order to be able to cope with confinement or similar scenarios in the future.

Factors Influencing the Likelihood of Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Adolescent Athletes: Type of Sport, Age, and Action Tendencies in Sport

This article proposes a new approach to understand substance use among adolescent athletes. Thus, this article describes an investigation of the likelihood of alcohol and tobacco use in adolescent athletes considering the type of sport, age, gender, and their action tendencies. A total of 552 athletes with an age range of 12-16 years were engaged in medium-high-contact sports (n = 291) and non-contact sports (n = 261). They completed the Children's Action Tendency Scale, the Sport Children's Action Tendency Scale, and the Personal and Social Responsibility Questionnaire. The results showed that 16-year-old athletes were the most likely to drink alcohol and to smoke tobacco (p < 0.001). Likewise, it was found that practicing a medium-high-contact sport was a risk factor for alcohol and tobacco use (p < 0.01). The more aggressive athletes were more likely to have smoked tobacco during the last month (p = 0.019) and also to drink more alcohol that the less aggressive ones (p < 0.001). Finally, the athletes who showed more submissiveness were less likely to have drunk alcohol in the last year and the last month (p < 0.001). These findings show the predictive value of new factors associated with alcohol and tobacco use among adolescent athletes. Preventive measures should be targeted, since a new link between the action tendencies in sport and substance use has been found.

Self-made material in physical education: Teacher perceptions of the use of an emerging pedagogical model before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused drastic changes in education, which had to adapt to changing scenarios (online, face-to-face, hybrid teaching). Within physical education (PE), strategies such as 'do not use or share equipment' were proposed to avoid infections. These strategies fit with an emerging pedagogical model called the Self-made Material Model (SMM), which involves students creating their own PE equipment. The objectives of the present study were: (a) to analyse PE teachers' beliefs about the use of self-made material in their classes, (b) to evaluate teachers' perceptions of the impact of the use of self-made material in PE lessons during the pandemic and (c) to examine gender/age differences. A quantitative, snowball research design was followed. The Self-made Material Questionnaire ( Méndez-Giménez and Fernández-Río, 2011) comprising two scales (41 items) was adapted: Teachers' beliefs about the use of self-made material scale and Teachers' perceptions of the impact of self-made material usage during the pandemic scale. In total, 1093 in-service teachers (443 women, 40.5%; M = 41.39, SD = 9.54) from 13 Ibero-American countries participated. Descriptive statistics were calculated, Student's T test was conducted for comparisons by gender and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was run for comparisons by age ranges. Overall, the scores were high, emphasising the potential to promote recycling and students' creativity and respect for the material. Women scored higher in items such as promoting interdisciplinarity, equality, attention to disability and education in values. In total, 833 (76.21%) teachers used self-made material during the pandemic and reported high levels of satisfaction, expectations of use, usefulness and profitability. No gender differences were found. In the COVID-19 era, the SMM is playing a relevant role as a meaningful framework and a helpful teaching methodology in different educational scenarios.

EFECTOS DE LOS DESCANSOS ACTIVOS EN LA ACTIVIDAD FÍSICA DE ESTUDIANTES DE PRIMARIA

Los objetivos fueron examinar el impacto de los descansos activos (DA) en la actividad física (AF) de estudiantes de 2º de primaria durante las clases, el recreo y el horario extraescolar, y analizar posibles compensaciones durante el día. Participaron 46 escolares (28 niñas) de 7-8 años. Se realizó un diseño cuasi-experimental con medidas pretest y postest. El grupo experimental (n=22) recibió un programa diseñado por docentes y estudiantes. La AF se registró mediante acelerometría. Las ANOVAs de medidas repetidas mostraron efectos significativas en AFMV y AF muy vigorosa a favor del grupo experimental. El grupo experimental incrementó 14’17”/día de AFMV y 2’01”/día de AF muy vigorosa. En este grupo también se produjo un descenso de AFMV durante los recreos de 6’54”/sem y se redujo el tiempo de actividad sedentaria durante las clases en 73’30”/sem. Implicar al docente y alumnado en el diseño de DA puede aumentar la AF del alumnado.

METAS DE LOGRO 3X2 Y MEDIADORES PSICOLÓGICOS EN ESTUDIANTES DE EDUCACIÓN FÍSICA

Esta investigación examina la relación entre las metas de logro 3x2, las necesidades psicológicas básicas, la motivación autodeterminada, la intención de ser físicamente activo y la satisfacción con la vida. Participaron en el estudio 1706 estudiantes de Educación Física de 10 a 17 años (M = 13.75; DT = 2.98). Se realizaron análisis descriptivos y regresiones lineales. La validez y la consistencia interna fueron apropiadas. Los resultados señalaron la importancia de la satisfacción de la competencia y la relación, la motivación autodeterminada, y las metas de aproximación-tarea y aproximación-otro en la predicción de la intención de ser físicamente activo, así como de las metas basadas en la tarea y la satisfacción de las tres necesidades psicológicas básicas en la predicción de la satisfacción con la vida. El marco de metas de logro 3x2 supone una contribución relevante en la explicación de las consecuencias motivacionales y del bienestar del alumnado.

Intra-individual changes in 3x2 achievement goals, friendship goals, motivational regulations and consequences in physical education

Introduction: This research examines intraindividual changes in 3x2 achievement goals in physical education classes during one semester, as well as the relationship of these changes with those in other motivational and outcome variables. Method: A total of 334 (178 boys and 156 girls) high school students (M = 13.12, SD = 1.05) completed five questionnaires in two different school years. Results: The results of the true intraindividual change model (TIC) provided unequivocal support for the separation of task-based and self-based goals, as well as the structures based on both valences of approach and avoidance. They also showed different intraindividual change patterns in the 3x2 achievement goals, indicating a progression in the stability of the goals depending on their definition. Intraindividual variability in achievement goals is directly related to intraindividual variability in dependent variables, with the task-approach goals TIC being the most adaptive. Conclusions: These goals should be prioritized.

Physical Activity and Prevention of Depressive Symptoms in the Spanish Population during Confinement due to COVID-19

BACKGROUND

In March 2020, the Spanish government established an official lockdown across the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and confined the population to their homes, restricting their mobility. The objectives of the study are twofold: a) to examine dose-response relationships between physical activity (PA) components (volume, intensity, frequency, duration) and depressive symptoms of the population during confinement, and b) to identify the optimal levels of PA to mitigate notable depressive symptoms (NDS).

METHODS

4,811 (2,952 women) Spanish citizens, age range 16-92 years, completed an online questionnaire (snowball sampling) to measure their levels of depressive symptoms, PA, and various anthropometric and sociometric variables. Volume (METs-min/week), frequency (days/week), and duration (hours) were examined using logistic regressions with restricted cubic splines.

RESULTS

The PA components were inversely associated with NDS. Performing at least 477 METs-min/week was associated with a 33% decrease in probability of NDS, and reaching 3,000 METs-min/week was associated with the lowest risk of NDS (47%). As for frequency, with 10 times/week the probability of NDS was 56% lower. At 10 hours of weekly practice, the probability of NDS was 39% lower.

CONCLUSIONS

A range and optimal amount of PA is suggested to reduce the appearance of SDN during confinement.

COVID-19, Psychological Well-being and Physical Activity Levels in Older Adults During the Nationwide Lockdown in Spain

OBJECTIVE

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has forced nationwide lockdowns in many countries. As a result, most of the Spanish population had to self-isolate at home. The physical and psychological consequences of this unexpected scenario could be particularly worrisome for people older than 60 years. This study is aimed to examine the psychological well-being of older adults during the home isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate whether meeting the World Health Organization's global recommendations on physical activity (PA) for health is associated with their resilience, affect, and depressive symptoms.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 483 citizens whose ages ranged from 60 to 92 years (overall sample: M = 65.49, SD = 5.14) were recruited via a snowball sampling strategy to answer to an online questionnaire.

MEASUREMENTS

The four instruments used were The Connor-Davidson CD-RISC resilience scale, The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the six-item self-report scale of Depressive Symptoms, and The international Physical Activity Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Results showed that older adults who regularly engaged in vigorous (VPA) and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during the quarantine reported higher scores in resilience (Locus, Self-efficacy, and Optimism), positive affect, and lower in depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

These finding are the first quantitative evidence pointing toward a link between engagement in VPA and/or MVPA and resilience, positive affect, and depressive symptoms within the COVID-19 restrictions in Spain. Acknowledging these associations may be important in developing health promotion programs for older people during the remaining period of confinement or future ones.

Resilience and physical activity in people under home isolation due to COVID-19: A preliminary evaluation

BACKGROUND

The recent shelter-in-place order issued by the Spanish government (due to the outbreak of the COVID-19) forced the Spanish population to self-isolate at home. The psychological and social effects of this new situation are unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of such scenario on citizens' resilience, as well as the connections between resilience, physical activity (PA), gender, weight and body mass index (BMI) before and after confinement, and COVID-19-related information.

METHODS

A total of 1795 people answered an online questionnaire conducted on March 21st^, , 2020, seven days after the mandatory shelter-in-place health order was issued.

RESULTS

Results showed that individuals who regularly engaged in Vigorous PA during the first week of confinement reported higher resilience in terms of higher locus of control, higher self-efficacy, and higher optimism. Moreover, inter-personal resilience differences were observed based on gender, age groups, BMI, weight, and people living with dependent persons or under health risk conditions.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, these findings are the first quantitative evidence pointing towards a link between engagement in Vigorous PA and resilience within the COVID-19 restrictions in Spain. These findings may have important implications for general population during the course of this pandemic, or future ones.

A multi-theoretical approach of the students' motivational profiles in physical education: achievement and social goals

BACKGROUND

The objective was to analyze the joint profiles of social goals (responsibility, relation and friendship) and 2 x 2 achievement goals, and the pattern of their relationship with the motivation types of the self-determination continuum in Physical Education settings.

METHOD

The sample consisted of 516 Secondary Education students (267 men, 249 women) aged between 12 and 17 years old ( M = 14.48, SD = 1.59). Cluster analysis and a MANOVA 2 (gender) x 4 (goal profiles) were performed.

RESULTS

Cluster analysis showed four motivational profiles: "high social and mastery-approach goals", "intermediate social goals", "high social and achievement goals", and "low social and intermediate achievement goals". The "high social and mastery-approach goals" cluster was shown to be the most self-determined, followed by the "high social and achievement goals" cluster.

CONCLUSION

This research emphasizes the value of social goals and helps to understand the motivational profiles of physical education students from a more holistic framework. It suggests that responsibility, friendship, and relation goals should be prioritized along with mastery-approach goals (but not performance goals) in order to increase students' self-determined motivation in Physical Education.

Validación del Cuestionario de Clima Motivacional 3x2 en educación física

Esta investigación aborda dos objetivos: a) examinar la validez de constructo de un instrumento de medición del clima motivacional basado en el modelo de metas de logro 3x2, y b) estudiar las relaciones entre las seis estructuras de clima motivacional y diversas variables consecuentes relevantes. En el estudio 1 se elaboró el Cuestionario de Clima Motivacional 3x2 en Educación Física, completado por estudiantes de secundaria y bachillerato (N =192, M = 15.57 años). El Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio apoyó el modelo hipotético. Comparado con 10 modelos alternativos, este fue el que produjo mejor ajuste a los datos. En el estudio 2 se reexaminó el modelo con estudiantes más jóvenes (N= 299; M = 13.14 años) y se realizaron análisis de regresión para explorar los tipos de clima motivacional como predictores de variables dependientes. Se produjeron evidencias de patrones predictivos diferenciales entre las estructuras de clima basadas en la tarea y el yo.

Understanding olympic champions and their achievement goal orientation, dominance and pursuit and motivational regulations: A case study

BACKGROUND

The goal was to compare the achievement goal profile and the motivational regulations of one world-class and two high-level athletes during their preparation for the Rio Olympic Games.

METHOD

Three kayakers from the Spanish Olympic team participated. One (P1) and two (P2) were high-level athletes: finalists at the World and European championships, and several national championships. Participant three (P3) was a world-class athlete: 2 Olympic medals, 7 World championship medals, 4 European championship medals, and several national championships. Before and after three training sessions and 4 international competitions (including World and European championships) all participants completed a questionnaire to assess their achievement goal orientation, dominance and pursuit, as well as their motivational regulation. Generalized estimated equations (GEE) analysis was used to assess significant differences between subjects.

RESULTS

P3 had lower performance-approach goal orientation, stronger mastery-approach goal dominance, lower performance-approach and performance-avoidance goal pursuit, higher mastery-avoidance goal pursuit and lower controlled motivation than the other two participants.

CONCLUSION

Our world-class athlete has a strong mastery-approach achievement goal dominant profile, and a low performance-oriented profile (both approach and avoidance) and controlled motivation. This profile should be confirmed in similar athletes to help coaches and their young athletes make appropriate decisions.

A self-determination approach to the understanding of the impact of physical activity on depressive symptoms

The purpose was to test a new motivational sequence. It was hypothesized that more autonomous forms of motivation would predict the intensity of physical activity (PA), which in turn, would predict depressive symptoms. In order to evaluate self-determined motivation, the Self-Determination Index (SDI) was used. Because the reasons that can lead a person to engage in walking, moderate PA, or vigorous PA may be different, 3 independent self-determination indexes were measured (SDIWalking, SDIModerate, and SDIVigorous). It was also measured the metabolic equivalent of task values (METs) for walking, moderate, and vigorous PA, as well as the depressive symptoms. The sample consisted of 357 college students whose ages ranged from 18 to 29 years. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model. The indices of fit showed that the revised model fits the data reasonably well: S-Bχ²₍₁₁₎  = 14.83, p = .190; χ² /df = 1.35; *comparative fit index = .99; *root mean square error of approximation = .03, 90% CI [.000, .068]; standardised root mean square residual = .03. It was found that vigorous PA is the only intensity that predicts depressive symptoms. In other words, SDIV-predicted vigorous PA (measured as MET_S V), which subsequently predicted less depressive symptoms (SDIV → MET_S V → Depressive symptoms). Further research should investigate the effects of vigorous PA on depressive symptoms.

Does Context, Practice or Competition affect Female Athletes' Achievement Goal Dominance, Goal Pursuit, Burnout and Motivation?

The goal of this study was to assess the effects of two different achievement sport contexts, practice and competition, on the motivational profile of professional/semi-professional athletes. Forty-eight Spanish national/international-level female athletes (basketball = 18; handball = 12; soccer = 11; volleyball = 7), mean age 25.14 ± 3.43 years, agreed to participate in the study. They completed a questionnaire, prior and after training and competition, to assess achievement goals, achievement goal dominance, goal pursuit, motivational climate, motivation, burnout and perceived recovery-exertion. Data analyses revealed that, both in practice and competition, these team-sport athletes overwhelmingly showed a strong mastery-approach achievement goal in dominance as well as in pursuit. A significant finding was that this group of national/international-level, professional/semi-professional athletes not only adopted a mastery-approach achievement goal, but they also actively pursued it. It is also remarkable that this profile remained stable at post-tests, even after a painful defeat in competition, which produced a significant negative effect on the athletes’ burnout (emotional and physical exhaustion and devaluation of sport participation) and self-determined motivation. As expected, the difference between total recovery and perceived exertion significantly increased after practice and competition. National/international-level team-sport professional/semi-professional female athletes held and pursue stable mastery-approach goal dominance.

The effect of a self-constructed material on children's physical activity during recess

OBJECTIVE

To analyze whether an intervention supported by free play with a self-constructed material increases the level of physical activity of students during recess.

METHODS

The participants were 166 children of third to sixth grade, between nine and 12 years old (average = 10.64; SS = 1.13). An experimental project was conducted with pre-test and post-test measurement, and a control group. Experimental group participants built cardboard paddles (third and fourth) and flying rings (fifth and sixth), a material they used freely for one week during recess. ActiGraph-GT3X accelerometers were used to measure physical activity. An ANOVA of repeated measures was used to find differences between groups and genders.

RESULTS

Significant intervention effects were found in the analyzed variables: sedentary activity (F = 38.19; p < 0.01), light (F = 76.56; p < 0.01), moderate (F = 27.44; p < 0.01), vigorous (F = 61.55; p < 0.01), and moderate and vigorous (F = 68.76; p < 0.01). Significant gender differences were shown (time × group × gender) for moderate (F = 6.58; p < 0.05) and vigorous (F = 5.51; p < 0.05) activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The self-constructed material is effective to increase the physical activity levels of children during recess; it decreases sedentary activity and light physical activity and increases the time devoted to moderate physical activity and vigorous physical activity, both in boys and in girls. The boys had an increase in vigorous physical activity and the girls in moderate physical activity. Due to its low cost, this strategy is recommended for administrators and teachers to increase the physical activity of children during recess.

Hacia un modelo jerárquico contextual y disposicional del aprendizaje

El propósito de la investigación es examinar el patrón secuencial de un modelo teórico que incluye variables contextuales y disposicionales en el aprendizaje de tres materias de educación secundaria obligatoria: Matemáticas (MT), Lengua Castellana y Literatura (LC) y Educación Física (EF). La muestra estuvo formada por 1108 estudiantes de educación secundaria (374 de MT, 364 de LC y 370 de EF). Se constató la validez del modelo mediante un análisis de estructuras de covarianzas, primero de manera independiente en cada asignatura, enfrentándolo, además, con modelos rivales. De los modelos testados el que presenta mejores valores, en los tres casos, es el que se hipotetizó en este estudio, con resultados muy similares en todos los parámetros estimados a los observados en el análisis factorial confirmatorio preliminar. El análisis multistep de invarianza mostró que los modelos presentaban índices de ajuste aceptables. El modelo de estructura de covarianza testado sitúa al alumnado en el eje de todo el proceso y al profesor como un ayudante eficaz, además permite superar la tradicional contraposición entre esfuerzo e interés.

Perfiles motivacionales de aproximaciónevitación en contextos de educación física

Tres fueron los objetivos: a) explorar la influencia que ejercen las metas sociales y de logro (aproximación/evitación) en el esfuerzo y diversión de los estudiantes de Educación Física, b) examinar los perfiles motivacionales de los adolescentes desde un marco holístico y c) estudiar las posibles diferencias entre perfiles en el esfuerzo y la diversión autoinformados. Los participantes fueron 479 estudiantes de secundaria (M = 14.36, DE = 1.58). Las metas de aproximación-maestría y evitación-amistad fueron los únicos predictores positivos del esfuerzo, mientras que las metas de aproximación-maestría y aproximación-amistad fueron los únicos predictores positivos de la diversión. Emergieron tres perfiles de clúster: (a) metas sociales bajas, (b) metas altas y (c) metas sociales altas y de logro moderadas a bajas, siendo los dos últimos más adaptativos. Los estudiantes varones se divirtieron significativamente más que las mujeres.

Connecting Athletes' Self-Perceptions and Metaperceptions of Competence: a Structural Equation Modeling Approach

This study explored the relationships between athletes’ competence self-perceptions and metaperceptions. Two hundred and fifty one student-athletes (14.26 ± 1.89 years), members of twenty different teams (basketball, soccer) completed a questionnaire which included the Perception of Success Questionnaire, the Competence subscale of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, and modified versions of both questionnaires to assess athletes’ metaperceptions. Structural equation modelling analysis revealed that athletes’ task and ego metaperceptions positively predicted task and ego self-perceptions, respectively. Competence metaperceptions were strong predictors of competence self-perceptions, confirming the atypical metaperception formation in outcome-dependent contexts such as sport. Task and ego metaperceptions positively predicted athletes’ competence metaperceptions. How coaches value their athletes’ competence is more influential on what the athletes think of themselves than their own self-perceptions. Athletes’ ego and task metaperceptions influenced their competence metaperceptions (how coaches rate their competence). Therefore, athletes build their competence metaperceptions using all information available from their coaches. Finally, only task-self perfections positively predicted athletes’ competence self-perceptions.

Exercise and Epstein's TARGET for treatment of depressive symptoms: A randomized study

This study was designed with a dual goal: (1) to compare the change in the scores of depressive symptoms by means of the implementation of three intervention programs in comparison to a control group: a) based on Epstein's TARGET (ET), b) without TARGET strategies (NET), and c) under conditions of active exercise (AE); and (2) to analyze whether the Self-determination Index (SDI) predicts the reduction of depressive symptoms. The participants (N = 106; 68 females and 38 males), aged between 18-30 years, were randomly assigned to one of the groups. Each treatment lasted 8 weeks (3 hours/week). Of the ET participants, 59.26% showed a therapeutic response, defined as a 50% reduction in the reference score, versus 25.93% for the NET, 19.23% for the AE, and 3.84% for the control group. After six months, the ET group increased their percentage of therapeutic response by slightly more than 10%, which did not occur in the other groups. SDI predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms, and our findings indicate that TARGET strategies can have a direct effect on depressive symptoms at the time of intervention and an indirect effect at a later stage due to their impact on future levels of physical activity.

El modelo de perfeccionismo disposicional 2x2 en la adolescencia: Una comprobación en el contexto de la Educación Física

Se examinó el modelo de perfeccionismo 2x2 en la adolescencia en el contexto de la Educación Física empleando diversas variables dependientes: auto-concepto, afectividad y satisfacción con la vida. Un total de 331 estudiantes de educación secundaria (58.9% varones y 41.1% mujeres; M = 14.29, DT = 1.43) tomó parte en el estudio. Los análisis de regresión jerárquica moderada mostraron que el tipo de Auto-exigencia Puro se asoció a resultados más adaptativos en comparación con el No-perfeccionismo. El de Presión Externa Puro se relacionó con resultados más negativos en comparación con los otros tipos de perfeccionismo. Finalmente, el Perfeccionismo Mixto se asoció a una mejor adaptación psicológica que el tipo Presión Externa Puro, y a una adaptación más débil con respecto al Perfeccionismo Autoexigente Puro.

Assessment of dispositional and contextual variables in educational settings: IEPA and AYES scales

BACKGROUND

Despite the fact that there are a few instruments designed to measure dispositional and contextual variables in educational contexts, the goal of this study is to elaborate and validate two questionnaires to measure learning interest, effort and progression as dispositional (IEPA) and contextual (AYEs) variables in secondary education students.

METHOD

An initial version of both scales was developed. They were reviewed by a panel of experts and tested on two pilot studies. The final versions were administered to the described sample and their psychometric properties were tested. Factor analyses (exploratory and confirmatory) were conducted on three sets of data: Mathematics (n = 290), Spanish Language and Literature (n = 283), and Physical Education (n = 289).

RESULTS

Both final scales had three dimensions with four items in each dimension. All standardized loads and critical values of t were overwhelmingly positive, while alpha coefficients ranged from .85 to .91. Both scales showed adequate construct validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity and concurrent validity.

CONCLUSIONS

Results showed that these new scales have adequate psychometric properties, allowing a valid and reliable assessment.

Achievement goals, social goals, and motivational regulations in physical education settings

This study examined the relationship between achievement and social goals, and explored how both goals affect students' level of informed self-determination in Physical Education. Participants were 395 high school students. Three scales were used to assess achievement, social goals, and motivation. Several hierarchical regression analyses revealed that mastery-approach goals were the greatest contributors to the individuals' levels of self-determination. Achievement and social goals were found to be separate predictors of students' levels of self-determination, and this highlights the importance of separating mastery and performance goals into avoidance and approach profiles. Girls reported significantly higher values than boys on responsibility, relationship, and mastery-avoidance goals, whereas boys scored higher on performance-approach goals. Researchers could use achievement and social goals to study students' motivation and achievement in Physical Education settings.