Competenza atletica percepita e valore soggettivo del compito nei bambini: uno studio longitudinale

The experience in physical and sport activity during school represents a developmental opportunity for children to achieve an appropriate awareness of physical perceived competence and to enhance the subjective value of physical activity. We analyzed the effects of a motor activity program on the perceptions of physical competence and subjective value of sport activity in a sample of 119 children of third, fourth and fifth grades in three different schools located in Cagliari’s area. About half of our sample took part to a physical and sport program of twelve weeks promoted by CONI, whereas the other half attended standard curricular planning. We assumed that competence perceptions and subjective task value show a stronger increase in the experimental group; we also assumed that competence perceptions differ depending on age and gender. Results emphasized a meaningful program’s effect on subjective task value, whereas none effects on competence perceptions resulted. The competence perception was affected by age, but not by gender. Therefore our results partially differed from what was reported in literature previously. They suggest more testing about program’s efficacy and underline the importance of recognizing and supervising optimal conditions wherein children can fully develop personal competencies, since from childhood.