Sport Motivation and Health: Relationship Between Health and Sport Motivation Among Key Junior High Schools’ Students in China

The existing research has focused on physical and mental health, yet exploring the relationship between sports motivation and overall health remains indispensable. This study investigates sports motivation and health levels of students in key junior high schools, examining correlations between these variables and their sub-items. Data were collected using the Sport Motivation Scale and the Self-rated Health Measurement Scale, followed by descriptive analysis, multi-way ANOVA and correlation analysis. Results revealed that intrinsic motivation emerged as the most prevalent type of motivation. Students’ health conditions were suboptimal, with the moderate sub-health group accounting for 60% of the whole sample. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation shared a similar development trend with overall health. Intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and their sub-items were found to have positive correlations with overall health (p<0.001). Notably, social health demonstrated a positive correlation with intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, sub-items, and overall health (p<0.001). The findings suggest that there are positive significant correlations among intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, social adaptation and overall health. Junior high school students' sports motivation and wellness are dynamic and complicated, sharing analogous developmental trajectories. It would be practical to pay more attention to Grade 8 students, as they are more likely to exhibit the worst situation regarding sports motivation and health. Meanwhile, intervention measures, such as internalization of sports values and external rewards, are suggested to enhance students’ wellness.