PERCEIVED PARENTAL AUTONOMY SUPPORT AND INTENTION TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate perceived parental autonomy support and intention to be physically active. The
participants were 248 students (152 males and 76 females) aged between 10 and 19 years (mean = 14.1years, SD = 2.13)
from five co – educational secondary schools. They were selected through simple random sampling technique using fish bowl
technique with replacement. After obtaining clearance from the school authority, the researcher and the researcher assistants
sought for the cooperation of the school Physical Education teacher who gathered the students in a classroom. The purpose of
the research was explained to the students and those who volunteered to take part were given the questionnaires to fill. The
students were told that they were not under any compulsion to participate and as a result, they could withdraw if they chose
to do so. The questionnaires were completed anonymously to protect the confidentiality of the students. The two instruments
used were: The perceptions of parents Scales (POPS) developed by Grolnick, Deci & Ryan (1997) and Intention to be
physically active outside of school by Ajzen & Fishbeing,1980) were adapted for use. Descriptive statistics were computed to
analyse the bio data. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to examine gender differences in the secondary school
students’ intention to be physically active outside school. Thereafter, the Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient was
computed to examine the relationship between parental autonomy support of fathers and mothers, while linear regression
analysis was computed to determine whether perceived parental autonomy predicts intention to be physically active outside
school. Results showed there was no significant gender difference in intention to be physically active outside school. There
was significant relationship between parental (father and mother) autonomy support and intention to be physically active
outside school. Both fathers’ and mothers’ autonomy supports were significant predictors of secondary school students’
intention to be physically active outside school.