Prediction model of healthy lifestyles through the self-determination theory in physical education students.

espanolEl objetivo principal de este estudio es analizar la prediccion que los procesos motivacionales tienen en la adopcion de habitos de estilos de vida que realzan la salud en adolescentes, en las clases de Educacion Fisica. La muestra se compone por 214 estudiantes de Ensenanza Secundaria en Portugal, entre los 15 y 19 anos (M = 16.46, DT = .96), de ambos sexos (104 chicos y 110 chicas). Se administran los siguientes cuestionarios: Escala del Locus Percibido De Causalidad en Educacion Fisica, Escala de medicion de las necesidades psicologicas basicas, el Cuestionario de Estilos de Vida Saludables y la Escala de Medida de la Intencionalidad para ser Fisicamente Activo. Se utiliza un analisis de ecuaciones estructurales, y se muestra que la satisfaccion de las necesidades psicologicas basicas predice la motivacion intrinseca, y esta a su vez, predice las variables relacionadas con los estilos de vida que realzan la salud, ambas predicciones de forma positiva y significativa. Se destaca la relevancia de desarrollar la motivacion mas autodeterminada a traves de la satisfaccion de las necesidades psicologicas basicas en las clases de Educacion Fisica para fomentar estilos de vida saludables en el alumnado. EnglishThe main objective of this study was to analyze the predicted effect that motivational processes have with regards adopting healthy lifestyle habits among adolescents during physical education classes. The sam- ple consisted of 214 Secondary Education students in Portugal, aged between 15 & 19 years old (M = 16.46, SD = .96), of both genders (104 boys and 110 girls). The following questionnaires were administered: The Perceived Locus of Causality Scale for Physical Education, the Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale, The Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire & the Scale of Measurement of Intention to be Physically Active. An analysis of structural equations was used which revealed that satisfaction with basic psychological needs can predict an intrinsic motivation which, in turn, predicted the variables related to healthy lifestyles, both positively & significantly. This study highlights the importance of developing self-determined moti- vation via satisfying basic psychological needs in physical education classes to promote a healthy lifestyle in students.