Building upon Self-Determination Theory, the objective of this research was to gather validity and reliability evidence on the use of the Interpersonal Behaviors Questionnaire (IBQ-Self) in the Spanish physical education (PE) teacher training context. Participants were 419 pre-service PE teachers (48.45% women; Mage = 26.97; SD = 6.49) from eight public universities; all were enrolled in the Professional Master's program in Education. We found psychometric support for a 24-item six-factor correlated model of the IBQ-Self that was invariant across gender. There was also evidence for discriminant validity and reliability of this instrument. Criterion validity was provided by positive relationships found between need satisfaction and need-supportive behaviors, and between need frustration and need-thwarting behaviors. Overall, the IBQ-Self is a valid and reliable measure of Spanish pre-service PE teachers' perceptions of their own need-supportive and need-thwarting behaviors.
Keywords: controlling behaviors; need-nurturing behaviors; need-supportive style; need-thwarting style; teaching student.