A cross-cultural examination of the role of (de-)motivating teaching styles in predicting students’ basic psychological needs in physical education: a circumplex approach

Abstract

Purpose: Guided by self-determination theory, this research examined cross-cultural differences in associations of students’ perceptions of teachers’ (de-)motivating approaches on Estonian and Spanish students’ need satisfaction from a circumplex model. Method: The participants were 601 Estonian (56% girls) and 669 Spanish (52% girls) secondary students. Results: Multigroup single-indicator structural equation modeling analysis revealed that participative, attuning, guiding, clarifying, and demanding predicted the satisfaction of each basic psychological need, according to the Estonian and Spanish students’ perspective. Domineering approach negatively predicted autonomy satisfaction in the eyes of Estonian students, while abandoning approach predicted the satisfaction of each basic psychological need negatively as perceived by Estonian and Spanish students. Conclusions: Results underscore the cross-cultural relevance in explaining the role of teachers’ (de-)motivating approaches in the eyes of students, supporting/undermining students’ need satisfaction in physical education. Therefore, these findings set the scene for development of effective guidance for teaching training adapted to culture, aimed at providing teachers with the strategies they need to apply the most optimal motivating teaching styles in their physical education lessons.