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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Stuart Zisman, DrPH, MSW and Issac Perkins, MD, MPH. Department of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Suite 2301-B, Jackson, MS 39213, 601-368-2086, stuart.zisman@jsums.edu
Enhancing inner motivation through cooperative competition
This presentation reports on the effectiveness of a cooperative competition model for motivating youth participation in fitness activities. Fitness programs play a strong role in treating and preventing obesity and health problems. Fitness programs have been shown to enhance physiological functioning, mental well-being and self-esteem. Previous research has shown that a task goal orientation, perceived competence and the learning climate can positively influence the development of inner motivation, making youth more likely to want to participate in a fitness activity. Self-improvement task goals have been shown to be as motivating as choosing a fixed standard to achieve. Product goals, particularly those attainable only to a few, can be de-motivating. A diverse racial and ethnic student body in grades 2-5 were tested in a fitness program that emphasized personal and group self-improvement. Group improvement was set up in a novel manner, where children of unequal talent combined individual performance into a group composite score, which the group attempted to improve, encouraging cooperation and for a competitive advantage. A participant of any talent level had equal chance to benefit their group’s improvement. Pre and post-testing of fitness showed that the activity in which the cooperative competition model was used significantly increased the desirability of the activity.
Learning Objectives: Participants will
Keywords: Physical Activity, Children's Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.