Enjoyment of physical education during transition to secondary school: links with attitudes, activity, and self-concept in Welsh adolescents

This study investigated enjoyment levels in physical education (PE) among adolescent students in their first year of secondary school in Wales (UK), examining associations with attitudes toward PE, physical self-perceptions, enjoyment of physical activity (PA), and PA behaviours. Participants were 192 Year 7 pupils (102 boys, 90 girls; M age = 12.31 years) from three secondary schools in South-East Wales. Students completed validated questionnaires assessing PE enjoyment (FIPE), PA enjoyment (PACES), PA behaviour (PAQ-A), physical self-perceptions (CY-PSPP), and attitudes toward PE (PEAAS). A one-way MANOVA revealed significant gender differences across measures, Wilks’ Λ = .86, F(10, 181) = 2.93, p = .002, with a large effect size (η2 = .14). Boys scored higher on sports competence and PE attitudes. Correlational analyses showed moderate associations between PE enjoyment and PA enjoyment, behaviour, and self-perceptions, with distinct gender patterns. Regression analyses identified key predictors of PE enjoyment, accounting for 21% of the variance in boys and 33% in girls, highlighting the role of activity enjoyment, self-worth, and perceived competence. These findings highlight opportunities to enhance PE strategies within the revised Welsh curriculum, promoting greater enjoyment, health, and PA participation among early adolescents.