Developing a web-based program for physical education teachers and parents to teach them how to interact with children in a need-supportive way to encourage them to be physically active

INTERVENTION: 3 intervention groups will be compared against one control condition (4 groups in total): 1. Teacher‐delivered intervention group 2. Parent‐delivered intervention group 3. Combined teacher‐ and parent‐delivered intervention group 4. Waitlist control group Randomization is done by schools and the study involves Grade 6‐7 students. Their physical education (PE) teachers and parents will be assigned either to participate in a six‐week web‐based need‐supportive intervention program or to continue teaching and parenting as they currently do (i.e., control group). Students are blinded to allocation. The PE teachers and parents in the experimental conditions will have access to web‐based learning platforms developed for this project that guide participants through the six‐week training program. The programs aim to familiarize participants with techniques directed at promoting children’s autonomous motivation towards out‐of‐school physical activity. All the training material will be presented to the participants via short video lectures. CONDITION: Leisure‐time physical activity of students ; Not Applicable PRIMARY OUTCOME: The students’ participation in out‐of‐school moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) measured by self‐report questionnaires at baseline, after the 6‐week intervention, 1‐month follow‐up and 5‐month follow‐up. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Self‐reported measures of psychological variables (perceived need‐support; autonomous and controlled forms of motivation towards physical activity; attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions for out‐of‐school physical activity) measured by self‐report questionnaires at baseline, after the 6‐week intervention, 1‐month follow‐up and 5‐month follow‐up. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Age 12‐13 years (Grade 6‐7 students) 2. No restrictions on participation in physical education classes