Social physical anxiety, perceived competence and perceived class climate as predictors of students’ satisfaction and performance-related anxiety in physical education

Physical appearance has a great importance on how people are viewed in their social environment. Many researchers in sport and exercise psychology have, therefore, applied a self-presentational approach to the study of sport and exercise behaviour (Hausenblas, Bewer & van Raalte, 2004). Since the seminal work of Hart, Leary and Rejeski (1992), researchers have examined the relationship between social physique anxiety (SPA) and a variety of behavioural and psychological variables. For instance, high SPA was found to be associated with avoidance of public exercise settings. SPA has also been correlated with variables related to self-presentational issues such as physical attractiveness, physical self-presentation confidence, satisfaction with body size and weight, body fat and weight control (Motl & Conroy, 2000). Despite the great interest of sport and exercise psychologists in SPA, previous research has had several major shortcomings. First, many studies have focused on college-aged and physically active groups (Motl & Conroy, 2000). Few studies have assessed SPA in youth even though adolescence is a time of rapid biological change, which can enhance the salience of the physique (Smith, 2004). Second, researchers have not yet investigated SPA in the context of physical education (PE). This is surprising as SPA is particularly influential in social situations, and PE is a compulsory subject in which performance assessment is an essential feature. Third, the vast majority of SPA studies were cross-sectional. Because longitudinal studies are missing, no cause-effect relationships can be established. Finally, few studies have considered social context variables even though they may interact with SPA in influencing attitudes toward exercise settings. Krane et al. (2002) proposed that a task-involving motivational climate might mitigate the negative effects of high SPA, whereas an egoinvolving climate may precipitate the detrimental effects associated with SPA.