“Where enjoyment begins, reengagement follows” a higher-order and dimensional analysis of individual interest and study engagement within an integrated individual and dual sports physical education context

Introduction: Student engagement in physical education (PE) is an important indicator of meaningful participation and learning in higher education. In the Philippines, where PE forms part of holistic student development, there is a need to understand how motivational constructs operate within specific activity contexts. This study examined the association between individual interest and study engagement among Filipino college students enrolled in an integrated PE context involving individual and dual sports. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional design was used with 327 undergraduate students enrolled in PATH-Fit 4 at a state university in the Philippines. Drawing on the tripartite model of individual interest, it was modeled as a reflective-reflective higher-order construct composed of positive affect and willingness to reengage (PAWR), stored utility value (SUV), and stored attainment value and knowledge-seeking intentions (SAVKSI). Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results: The higher-order model showed that individual interest was positively and significantly associated with study engagement, although the effect size and explanatory power were small. The dimensional model explained a greater proportion of variance than the higher-order model. Among the three factors, only PAWR demonstrated a significant positive association with study engagement, while SUV and SAVKSI were not significant. These findings indicate that the dimensions of individual interest were not equally associated with engagement in this context. Discussion: The results suggest that individual interest is a coherent multidimensional construct, but its engagement relevance depends on the specific factors examined. In PE involving individual and dual sports, affective attraction and willingness to reengage appear to be more immediately associated with students' engagement than perceived usefulness or knowledge-seeking orientation. The findings provide preliminary support for a context-sensitive interpretation of the tripartite model and highlight the importance of designing sport-based PE experiences that foreground enjoyment, emotional safety, manageable challenge, and opportunities for repeated participation.