Physical Activity Engagement and Enjoyment in Youth

Youth engagement in physical activity encompasses not only the frequency and intensity of movement but also the affective responses that shape long-term participation. Enjoyment emerges as a central determinant of sustained activity, interacting with psychological factors such as intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy and task orientation. Interpersonal influences—including parental support, peer acceptance and the quality of physical education experiences—further modulate both engagement and enjoyment. Motor competence and fitness outcomes, notably cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, are both predictors and consequences of positive experiences in sport, active play and structured exercise. Socioeconomic context, gender and cultural norms can moderate these relationships, with evidence of widening disparities in enjoyment and participation among low-income and marginalised groups. Globally, strategies that integrate skill development, supportive social environments and enjoyable curricula hold promise for improving youth health trajectories and addressing physical inactivity as a public health priority.

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Physical Activity Engagement and Enjoyment in Youth publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in physical activity engagement and enjoyment in youth across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Physical activity enjoyment: The positive emotional response experienced during or after engagement in movement or exercise.

Self-efficacy: An individual’s belief in their capability to organise and execute actions required to manage prospective situations.

Motor competence: Proficiency in fundamental movement skills, including locomotor and object-control abilities.

Cardiorespiratory fitness: The capacity of the circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to muscles during sustained physical activity.

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA): Physical activity that raises the heart rate substantially above resting levels, typically defined by specific metabolic equivalent thresholds.

References

1. Correlates of physical activity enjoyment in children and adolescents for a new perspective on the treatment of overweight: A systematic literature review. Obesity Reviews (2023).
2. Physical Activity Enjoyment, Physical Activity Behavior, and Motor Competence in Low-Income Elementary School Students. Education Sciences (2024).
3. Longitudinal Associations Between Enjoyment of Physical Education, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Muscular Fitness Among Finnish Adolescents. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports (2024).