Examining associations among physical activity, motivation, attitudes, physical activity behaviour, and perceived fitness
Keywords:
attitude, motivation, physical activity programs, physical activity behavior, student fitnessAbstract
Background: Elementary students’ perceived fitness is an important marker of health, yet few studies have examined how school-based physical activity programmes are associated with perceived fitness through motivation, attitudes toward physical activity, and physical activity behaviour. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the structural relationships among school-based physical activity programmes, motivation, attitudes toward physical activity, physical activity behaviour, and perceived fitness, and to test whether motivation, attitudes, and physical activity behaviour statistically mediated these relationships. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed involving 150 Grade IV-VI students from public primary schools in Indonesia selected via cluster sampling. Variables were measured using five-point Likert-scale self-report instruments. School-based physical activity referred to students’ perceived engagement in existing programmes rather than exposure to an experimental intervention. Data were analysed using PLS-SEM. Results: School-based physical activity programmes were positively associated with students’ motivation (β = 0.575) and attitudes (β = 0.482). Motivation (β = 0.400) and attitudes (β = 0.336) were associated with more frequent physical activity behaviour, which showed a strong association with perceived fitness (β = 0.600). The model explained variance in physical activity behaviour (R² = 0.344) and perceived fitness (R² = 0.360). Conclusion: Physical activity programmes, motivation, attitudes, behaviour, and perceived fitness were interrelated among elementary school students, with physical activity behaviour acting as a key link between psychological factors and perceived fitness. These findings should be interpreted in light of the study’s cross-sectional design, reliance on self-report measures, and school sample, which limit causal inference and generalisability.
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Author Biographies
Luqmanul Hakim, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas PGRI Adi Buana Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia
Gatot Margisal Utomo, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas PGRI Adi Buana Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia
Mikkey Anggara Suganda, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama, Cirebon, Indonesia
Oliver Ramos-Álvarezoliver , Área de Educación Física y Deportiva, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
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Accepted 2026-03-02
Published 2026-04-15
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