AI Insight
This cross-sectional study of secondary school students in Beijing examined how key competencies in physical education relate to exercise-related positive wellbeing. Results showed that physical education competencies were directly associated with improved wellbeing, and that this relationship was also mediated through two pathways: enhanced physical self-perception and increased autonomous motivation. The serial pathway involving both mediators was also statistically significant, suggesting multiple mechanisms link physical education skills to student wellbeing.
Why it matters
These findings suggest that developing physical education competencies in schools may improve student wellbeing not only directly but also by enhancing how students perceive their physical abilities and their internal motivation to exercise. This information could help educators design more effective physical education programs that target multiple pathways to student mental health and wellbeing.
Understand the Science
PurposeThis study examined the association between key competencies of physical education (KCPE) and exercise-related positive wellbeing among secondary school students from selected districts of Beijing. It also estimated specific indirect associations through physical self-perception and autonomous motivation, including the specified serial indirect pathway.MethodsAn analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted using stratified cluster sampling among secondary school students from selected districts of Beijing. Participants completed standardized self-report measures, and the data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0 and AMOS 28.0.ResultsThe hypothesized model showed good fit (χ2/df = 1.399, CFI = 0.997, TLI = 0.996, RMSEA = 0.021, SRMR = 0.013). KCPE was positively associated with physical self-perception (β = 0.390), autonomous motivation (β = 0.353), and exercise-related positive wellbeing (β = 0.190; all p < 0.001). Physical self-perception was positively associated with autonomous motivation (β = 0.280) and exercise-related positive well-being (β = 0.134), and autonomous motivation was positively associated with exercise-related positive wellbeing (β = 0.312; all p < 0.001). The standardized indirect associations through physical self-perception [0.052, 95% CI (0.024, 0.081)], autonomous motivation [0.110, 95% CI (0.078, 0.146)], and the specified serial indirect pathway involving both variables [0.034, 95% CI (0.022, 0.048)] were statistically significant. In supplementary models, none of the paths from KCPE, physical self-perception, or autonomous motivation to psychological distress or fatigue was statistically significant.ConclusionAmong the surveyed students, KCPE was positively associated with exercise-related positive well-being, and physical self-perception and autonomous motivation showed statistically significant indirect associations within this relationship. These cross-sectional findings are consistent with the proposed association pattern but do not confirm temporal precedence, which requires longitudinal evidence.