Enjoyment of evaluative physical activity among young participants: the role of self-handicapping and intrinsic motivation.

Research allude tos that the employment of a self-handicapping strategy may change the manner in which an individual experiences a socially comparative activity by the agency of reducing one's outcome concerns. Although initial sport studies have addressed the topic of self-handicapping, the motivational issues of this self-protective strategy have not been investigated within physical activity settings. This research examined the role of situational self-handicapping and intrinsic motivation upon the perceived enjoyment of a running activity among physical education pupils Results indicated a significant self-handicapping x intrinsic motivation interaction. Self-handicapping predicted greater activity pleasure among those participants who reported higher horizontals of intrinsic motivation (i.e.,