# Implementing High-Intensity Interval Training in Physical Education: Effects on Adolescents' Exercise Motivation

PMID: 40282122
Journal: Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
Published: 2025 Apr 9
Authors: Mitić P, Jovanović R, Stojiljković N, Trajković N, Olanescu M, Suciu A, Popa D, Peris M

## Question

Does implementing HIIT during physical education affect adolescents' exercise motivation compared with a traditional warm-up?

## Summary

In male adolescents, adding a 10-minute Tabata-style HIIT warm-up to physical education twice weekly for 12 weeks improved some social motivation subscales, especially social recognition, compared with traditional moderate warm-up. Most motivation domains did not change.

## Population

- Sixty healthy male adolescents in high school.
- Sample size: 60
- Age: Mean 16.23 +/- 0.6 years
- Sex: Male
- Fitness level: No structured exercise in previous 6 months
- Health status: Healthy

## Methodology

- School-based randomized controlled trial
- 12 weeks
- High-school physical education classes
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- PE Tabata HIIT.
- Modality: Bodyweight and ball exercises.
- Work intervals: 20 seconds.
- Recovery: 10 seconds; 1 minute between sequences.
- Sets or repetitions: Two 4-minute sequences of 8 exercises.
- Intensity: 80%-90% HRmax.
- Session duration: About 10 minutes plus 5-minute warm-up.
- Frequency: 2 sessions/week.
- Program length: 12 weeks.
- Progression: No progression reported.
- Traditional moderate warm-up.
- Modality: Jogging, drills, and stretching.
- Intensity: Moderate intensity.
- Session duration: Same total duration as HIIT warm-up.
- Frequency: 2 sessions/week.
- Program length: 12 weeks.

## Outcomes

### Social recognition
Status: improved
Social recognition increased in HIIT and did not change in control.

Group x time p=.04, partial eta2=.079; HIIT p=.02.

### Affiliation
Status: improved
Affiliation increased over time in the HIIT group but not control.

Time effect F(1,58)=6.39, p=.02; HIIT p=.02.

### Competition
Status: improved
Competition motive increased in HIIT but not control.

Time effect F(1,58)=5.78, p=.02; HIIT p=.02.

### Other motives
Status: no clear change
Other motivational factors, including enjoyment, did not significantly change.

Reported p>.05.

## Practical Insights

- A two-sequence Tabata block can fit into a PE warm-up without dropouts in this sample.
- Social/competitive motives may respond more than enjoyment.

## Limitations

- Boys only.
- Self-report motivation outcomes.
- Comparator was traditional warm-up, not another structured engaging format.
- No broad changes across most motivation domains.

## Safety And Adherence

- No adverse events were explicitly reported; HR-based safety prompts were used.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40282122/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15040501) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12024064/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.