The Role of an Empowering Motivational Climate on Pupils’ Concentration and Distraction in Physical Education

Abstract

Purpose: The present study investigated the relationship between an empowering motivational climate and pupils’ concentration and distraction in physical education, mediated by basic psychological needs satisfaction and by positive and negative affect. Method: The participants were 425 French pupils (Mage = 15.36, SDage = 0.82) from 21 high schools, who filled in a questionnaire regarding the study variables. This cross-sectional study used multilevel structural equation modeling to examine the hypothesized relationships. Results: Good fit indices were found in the data from the theoretical model. An empowering motivational climate was found to be related to concentration. Competence need satisfaction was related to concentration and distraction. This association was mediated by positive and negative affect, which in turn was related to concentration and distraction. Conclusion: Teachers can improve pupils’ concentration and positive affect and reduce distraction and negative affect by supporting an empowering motivational climate and fostering competence need satisfaction.