Motivation and learning strategies in university students of Primary Education: analysis based on academic factors and healthy habits

The development of learning strategies, adequate levels of intrinsic motivations and the prevention of high levels of stress and academic anxiety is essential for the achievement of academic performance in the university context. This descriptive and cross-sectional research aims to relate the levels of motivation and learning strategies with the academic performance and physical activity practice of university students (n = 225). For this, the MLSQ-SF questionnaire is used as main instrument, using the IBM SPSS (R) 23.0 software for statistical analysis. The results showed a negative association between the academic marks and the value of the task, as well as a positive relationship between the academic marks and the organizational strategies, the time and study habits and the regulation of the effort. Likewise, it was observed how the level of intrinsic motivation was positively associated with the regulation of effort, organization, elaboration and meta-cognitive strategies, as well as the study habits. In relation to healthy habits, it was observed that the practice of physical activity decreased levels of anxiety and was related to worse strategies and regulation of effort.