Emotional education through motor expressive activities: A gender perspective

Abstract

This study analyses the types of emotions that are aroused by motor expressive activities (MEA) of a cooperative and psychomotor nature, in accordance with the classification of Parlebas. Emotional experience was analysed in relation to gender and the location where the research was conducted. The Games and Emotions Scale (GES), a measure of emotional awareness, was administered to 172 students (61 female and 111 male) recruited from year one of a degree in sports science and from a diploma course for prospective physical education teachers (University of Barcelona and the University of Zaragoza, the two locations). Data analysis by means of generalized estimating equations showed that MEA evoked strong positive emotions in the students. The cooperative domain evoked more intense positive emotions than did the psychomotor domain. There were no significant differences in the intensity of emotions reported by males and females, a finding that contradicts both popular beliefs and some previous studies that attribute greater emotionality to women. Overall there were no significant differences between the two locations, although some of the interactions were significant when location was analysed in relation to the type of emotion and the type of motor domain. This study confirms the key role that MEA can play in terms of generating positive emotions and promoting wellbeing among students.