Attitude and Basic Needs Skills of Secondary Students and Their Engagement in Physical Education Activities

This study examined the relationship among attitude, physical activity engagement, and basic psychological need satisfaction among junior high school students, and how these factors influence sustained participation in school-based sports. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the study employed a descriptive-correlational design involving 200 students from the junior high school department of Madridejos National High School. An adapted and validated questionnaire was used to assess students’ autonomy, competence, and relatedness, as well as their attitudes, vigor, devotion, and engagement in sports participation. Findings revealed that while students’ behavioral intention to participate in sports remained moderate regardless of ability level, they demonstrated a high level of positive attitude toward sports. Students particularly valued sports for its role in character development and stress reduction. A very high level of satisfaction during participation emerged as a key driver of physical activity engagement. In addition, the respondents’ basic psychological needs were found to be highly satisfied, particularly in terms of autonomy (free choice of activities) and social relatedness. These factors significantly influenced their overall experience. Moreover, all variables showed significant relationships, with basic psychological needs and physical activity engagement exhibiting a strong positive correlation. The results indicate that satisfying students’ psychological needs plays a crucial role in promoting sustained participation.