Abstract

School physical education experiences may shape later exercise engagement, yet how such experiences are cognitively organized in relation to perceived sports competence remains insufficiently understood. This study examined the associations between perceived sports competence and retrospective physical education experiences among Japanese university students using a mixed-methods design. Participants (N = 276) completed a retrospective questionnaire assessing perceived sports competence (PSPP-J short-form Sports Competence subscale), elementary and junior high school physical education experiences, and current exercise-related outcomes. Exploratory factor analysis supported a single-factor structure (eigenvalue = 2.84, variance explained = 61.87%), with good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.86). Based on median scores, participants were classified into lower and higher competence groups. Quantitative analyses indicated that students with higher perceived competence reported more positive retrospective evaluations, greater comfort in physical education settings, and higher current exercise frequency. Qualitative text mining analyses further revealed systematic structural contrasts in narrative organization: higher competence narratives demonstrated greater integration of ability-related and affective elements, whereas lower competence narratives showed stronger clustering of evaluative and socially contextualized terms. Overall, the findings suggest that perceived sports competence is associated not only with exercise-related behaviors but also with differences in how physical education experiences are organized within retrospective accounts. These findings highlight the potential relevance of competence-supportive instructional contexts for understanding how physical education experiences may be remembered and interpreted later in life.

Keywords

Perceived Sports Competence, Physical Education, Retrospective Narrative, Text Mining, Exercise Engagement, Mixed-Methods,

References

  1. Babic, M.J., Morgan, P.J., Plotnikoff, R.C., Lonsdale, C., White, R.L., Lubans, D.R. Physical Activity and Physical Self-Concept in Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine, 44(11), (2014) 1589-1601.
  2. Beni, S., Fletcher, T., NI Chroinin, D. Meaningful Experiences in Physical Education and Youth Sport: A Review of the Literature. Quest, 69(3), (2016) 291-312.
  3. Cairney, J., Kwan, M.Y., Veldhuizen, S., Hay, J., Bray, S.R., Faught, B.E. Gender, Perceived Competence and the Enjoyment of Physical Education in Children: A Longitudinal Examination. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 9(1), (2012)26.
  4. Cardinal, B.J., Yan, Z., Cardinal, M.K. Negative Experiences in Physical Education and Sport: how much do they Affect Physical Activity Participation Later in Life. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 84(3), (2013) 49-53.
  5. Dumith, S.C., Gigante, D.P., Domingues, M.R., Kohl III, H.W. Physical Activity Change during Adolescence: A Systematic Review and a Pooled Analysis, International Journal of Epidemiology, 40(3), (2011) 685-698.
  6. Fletcher, T., & Ní Chróinín, D. Pedagogical principles that support the prioritisation of meaningful experiences in physical education: Conceptual and practical considerations. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 27(5), (2022) 455-466.
  7. Harter, S. The Perceived Competence Scale for Children, Child Development, 53(1), (1982) 87-97.
  8. Higuchi, K. A Two-Step Approach to Quantitative Content Analysis: KH Coder Tutorial using Anne of Green Gables. Ritsumeikan Social Sciences Review, 53(1), (2017) 137-147.
  9. Horn, T.S. (Ed.), Advances in Sport Psychology, 3rd edition. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL, (2008).
  10. K.R. Fox, C.B. Corbin, the Physical Self-Perception Profile: Development and Preliminary Validation, Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 11(4), (1989) 408–430.
  11. Marsh, H.W., Craven, R.G. Reciprocal Effects of Self-Concept and Performance from a Multidimensional Perspective: Beyond Seductive Pleasure and Unidimensional Perspectives. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 1(2) (2006) 133-163.
  12. Ntoumanis, N., Biddle, S.J. A Review of Motivational Climate in Physical Activity. Journal of Sports Sciences, 17(8) (1999) 643-665.
  13. Ntoumanis, N., Ng, J.Y., Prestwich, A., Quested, E., Hancox, J.E., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., Deci, E.L., Ryan, R.M., Lonsdale, C. and Williams, G.C., A meta-analysis of self-determination theory-informed intervention studies in the health domain: effects on motivation, health behavior, physical, and psychological health. Health Psychology Review, 15(2) (2021) 214-244.
  14. Ntoumanis, N., Standage, M. Motivation in Physical Education Classes: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective, Theory and Research in Education, 7(2), (2009) 194–202.
  15. Owen, K. B., Smith, J., Lubans, D. R., Ng, J. Y., & Lonsdale, C. Self-determined motivation and physical activity in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine, 67, (2014) 270-279.
  16. Standage, M., Duda, J.L., Ntoumanis, N. A Test of Self-Determination Theory in School Physical Education. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 75(3), (2005) 411-433.
  17. Subramaniam, P., Silverman, S. Middle School Students’ Attitudes toward Physical Education, Teaching and Teacher Education, 23(5), (2007) 602–611.
  18. Uchida, W., Hashimoto, K., Fujinaga, H., Development of the Japanese version of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP-J) and differences by gender and physical activity level. Japanese Journal of Sport Psychology, 30(2) (2003) 27-40.
  19. Vasconcellos, D., Parker, P.D., Hilland, T., Cinelli, R., Owen, K.B., Kapsal, N., Lee, J., Antczak, D., Ntoumanis, N., Ryan, R.M. and Lonsdale, C., Self-determination theory applied to physical education: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 112(7), (2020) 1444-1469.
  20. Warburton, Darren, E.R., Shannon, S.D. Health Benefits of Physical Activity: A Systematic Review of Current Systematic Reviews. Current Opinion in Cardiology, 32(5), (2017) 541–556.
  21. Weiss, M.R., Ferrer-Caja, E. Motivational Orientations and Sport Behavior, in: T.S. Horn (Ed.). Advances in Sport Psychology, 2nd ed. Human Kinetics, Champaign, (2002) 101–170.