The Influence of Mental Toughness and Learning Motivation on Student Activeness in Physical Education Learning in Elementary Schools: Literature Review

Evinkan; Yopi Hutomo Bhakti

Authors

Evinkan Universitas Muhammadiyah Kotabumi Lampung Author
Yopi Hutomo Bhakti Universitas Muhammadiyah Kotabumi Lampung Translator

Keywords:

Mental Toughness; Learning Motivation; Student Engagement; Physical Education Learning; Elementary School.

Abstract

Student engagement is a central indicator of the success of Physical Education, Sports, and Health (PJOK) learning in elementary schools because it is directly related to the quality of movement learning experiences, mastery of motor skills, and the development of positive attitudes toward physical activity. However, the level of student engagement is not solely determined by learning methods but is also influenced by internal psychological factors such as mental toughness and learning motivation. This study aims to conceptually and empirically synthesize recent findings regarding the influence of these two variables on student engagement in PJOK learning in elementary schools. The method used was a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with a structured selection procedure of reputable scientific articles published in the past seven years through Google Scholar, Garuda, SINTA, DOAJ, and ERIC databases. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed using a descriptive-thematic approach to identify patterns of relationships and consistency of findings. The results of the synthesis indicate that mental toughness positively contributes to students' emotional regulation, self-confidence, resilience, and persistence in facing the challenges of PJOK activities. On the other hand, learning motivation—especially intrinsic motivation—consistently correlates positively with active engagement, enthusiasm, and the courage to try movement skills. Simultaneously, these two variables complement each other in fostering sustained engagement. These findings emphasize that strengthening psychological aspects needs to be an integral part of the PJOK pedagogical strategy to improve the quality of student engagement in elementary schools.

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