Comparison of Motivation Types, Self-Assessment of Sport Skills, and Fitness Among Young Adolescents Regarding Additional Physical Activity

Background: Many studies examine young adolescents’ motivation for physical activity (PA), but few explore the problem in depth, considering the self-assessment of sport skills or the impact of additional PA. Insufficient PA among adolescents is a significant global issue. This study aimed to analyze the differences in types of motivation, the self-assessment of sports skills, and overall fitness among young adolescents with regard to additional PA. Material and Methods: A sample of high school students (n = 355) was assessed using an MPAM-R questionnaire, a self-developed sport skills competency test, and an IFIS questionnaire. Results: There are significant differences in types of motivation between genders: girls achieved higher results in terms of appearance, whereas boys were mostly focused on enjoyment and competence. Additionally, participants who reported engaging in additional PA, regardless of gender, achieved higher results in nearly all types of motivation, except for social. The findings consistently highlight a strong emphasis on appearance among young adolescents. The self-assessments of sports skills and overall fitness were also higher in the group of participants with additional PA. The study revealed further differences between boys and girls in the assessment of tactical and technical skills. Boys rated themselves higher in team sports, whereas girls in individual activities such as gymnastics. Conclusions: These results provide new insights into teenagers’ motivations and self assessment of sport skills and can serve as a solid foundation for further research for developing activities aimed at increasing leisure-time PA among youth.