The effect of weight stereotype threat on the motor skill learning and intrinsic motivation of children

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of weight stereotypes on the motor skill learning and intrinsic motivation of children. Twenty-four boys aged 8 to 10 years old (M = 8.34 ? .72) with self-perceptions of being overweight (BMI ? 25) were randomly divided into two equal groups: one comprising overweight children with overweight self-perceptions (Stereotype [ST]) and the other comprising normal weight children with overweight self-perceptions (Reduced stereotype [RST]). Dribbling a futsal ball between obstacles was assessed through pre-test, post-test, and retention stages. A modified Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) was completed by the participants. Results revealed significant differences between the ST and RST in both the acquisition and retention phases in favor of RST. Additionally, before the retention test, the RST achieved significantly higher IMI scores compared to the ST. Therefore, the findings indicate that weight stereotypes have a significant effect on motor skill acquisition for boys.