Satisfaction of the basic psychological needs in Physical Education classes and their relationship with the fear of failure according to gender and the extracurricular sports practice of Secondary Education students

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs of students and their relation with aversive causes which are induced by the fear of failure in physical education classes and to notice the differences depending on sex and extracurricular practice. For achieving these aims, the subjects answer to Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale (BPNES) and Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI). The sample is composed of 464 students between 12-17 years old from different schools of compulsory secondary education in Murcia. Results reflect that the basic psychological needs most fulfilled is the relatedness with other students, whereas the most aversive cause is to feel shame. It is ascertained how children feel more competent than girls, whereas there was no difference between the fear of failure. In addition, children who practice any physical practice show higher results in the three psychological needs and feel fear due to their uncertain future. Eventually, the perception of autonomy is associated with a less fear of losing interest of others, whereas competence perception and the relatedness with others are associated with all aversive causes of fear of failure.