Towards an understanding of children's motivation for physical activity: Achievement goal orientations, beliefs about sport success, and sport emotion in Zimbabwean children

The study of children's physical activity motivation is important for public health promotion. However, more needs to be known about physical activity determinants across different groups and cultures. This study investigated the achievement goal orientations, beliefs about sport success and emotional feelings concerning sport in 159 children from Zimbabwe. The study was based on research conducted in the USA and England to test the replicability of findings across cultures. Results showed that children endorsing a task (self-referenced) orientation of sport success were more likely to believe that sport success was the result of effort rather than ability, whereas the reverse was true for those endorsing the normatively referenced ego (social comparative) goal. Children high in task orientation, either alone or in combination with a high ego orientation, were found to display the most motivationally adaptive profile. The results were very similar to those reported in the USA and England and highlight the importance of studying goal orientations in furthering understanding of children's physical activity and health.