This study investigated the motivations for people to engage in exercise or sports and whether these factors differ between the two types of physical activity and by genders. The researchers hypothesized that people will be more likely enjoy and therefore to continue to engage in physical activity in the form of sports than in the form of exercise. Researching motivation for physical activity is essential for designing programs to encourage such habits in American college students, who are not often sufficiently active from a health perspective. The hypothesis was based on earlier studies comparing motivation for different forms of physical activity. Since these studies were few and not very comprehensive in accounting for sources of motivation, …show more content…
MANOVA (multivariate analysis of variance), using physical activity type and sex as independent variables, indicated that health and appearance factors contributed more to exercise motivation while a sense of belonging and competition contributed more to sports participation. In addition, women were motivated to a greater extent by weight management while men were more motivated by competition. The researchers concluded that in general, there is more intrinsic motivation for sports participation and more extrinsic motivation for exercise and thus sports may have a long-term advantage over exercise in terms of continuation of physical activity habits. Moreover, the researchers suggest that women are more motivated through concerns about physical appearance and men through ego-satisfaction. In accordance with the hypothesis the promotion of sports as a fitness activity might be effective in increasing physical activity among college …show more content…
It found statistically significant differences for each of the variables considered. However, since the ratings of physical activity did not find any differences in the tendency of people to continue their sports routine versus their exercise routine, I don’t think that there is basis for the authors’ claim that people are more likely to stick to playing sports than to continue exercising in the long run. The approach in this study was to determine the kinds of motivation experienced by people when they engage in a particular kind of physical activity. I think an alternative approach could have been used to learn about the kinds of motivation that cause people to choose one kind of physical activity over another. In other words instead of using the types of physical activity as a starting point, the motivations themselves could be used as a starting point, to gain a different perspective. This method of conceptualizing the study is more appealing to me because it seems more direct to say that motivation leads to a particular type of physical activity than to say that this type of physical activity is associated with certain kinds of
Kilpatrick, Marcus, Edward Hebert, and John Bartholomew. "College Students' Motivation for Physical Activity: Differentiating Men's and Women's Motives for Sport Participation and Exercise ." Journal of American College Health 54 (2005): 92. Mintel . Web. 4 Dec. 2013.
Attending college is not only a chance for students to further their education, but it also allows them to experience the lessons life has to offer. One of the hardest lessons to learn is how unfair life can be. Students who work diligently to achieve academic success in the classroom may quickly realize their academic efforts do not “pay off” as much as the student-athlete who possesses the ability to kick a football fifty yards. There is an evident failure in the educational system when the student-athlete’s performance and how they contribute to a winning season, is more valuable to the university, than the academic student who strives to graduate with honors. Students who focus their efforts on an academic based education are not rewarded with the same benefits, resources, and perks as their student-athlete counterparts.
...exercise intrinsic motivation. Health Values: The Journal of Health Behavior, Education & Promotion, 19(2), 18-26.
In a recent study, 403 participants were first asked to answer a short questionnaire regarding their gender, age, and physical exercise habits. They then completed a questionnaire regarding perceived characteristics of a sport. In this latter questionnaire, the respondent was asked to rate to what degree the descriptor is characteristic of the sport or those practicing the sport using a seven-point scale from 1 (“Not at all characteristic of the sport/sport participant”) to 7 (“Very much characteristic of the sport/sport participant”). For each participant, the sport to be rated was randomly selected out of 41 different sports, 19 of which had been previously labeled gender-neutral, 7 of which ha...
College is a time for young people to develop and grow not only in their education, but social aspects as well. One of the biggest social scenes found around college campuses are athletic events, but where would these college sports be without their dedicated athletes? Student athletes get a lot of praise for their achievements on the field, but tend to disregard the work they accomplish in the classroom. Living in a college environment as a student athlete has a great deal of advantages as well as disadvantages that affect education and anti-intellectualism.
The sport related issue that will be looked at throughout this essay is one major problem that is continuously growing, which is obesity. What obesity actually is, is the state of being overweight due to lack of physical activity and fitness. Further on through this essay, there will be a discussion of the number of key issues which revolve around obesity in relation to the three main theoretical perspectives, these are; sociology, psychology and physiology. Furthermore with these three different theoretical perspectives, a display of research methods will be used in order to create further investigation and supporting evidence will be shown for each of the perspectives. Also throughout this essay, a discussion will be shown from different researchers in how obesity can be investigated further. Supporting evidence will also be used throughout this essay in order to display different view-points from different researchers who have different opinions and view-points on the topic of obesity with linkage to sociology, psychology and physiology.
They were administered multiple measures including the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), the Athletic Identity Questionnaire (AIQ), the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin), as well as several others. Reifsteck (2011) measured athletic identity with the AIMS, addressed the research question with the AIQ, addressed physical activity levels with the Godin, and required participants to provide self-report ratings of past and present athletic identity (Reifsteck, 2011). Results indicated that stronger athletic identity was correlated to higher physical activity levels, and most participants had a difficult time transitioning into retirement from sport (Reifsteck, 2011). In addition, participants reported that their physical activity was promoted by simply identifying as an athlete; however, time, motivation, and a reduction in athletic identity were the biggest obstacles in continuing to exercise, after athletes’ athletic career (Reifsteck, 2011). Moreover, the results demonstrated that the athletes in this study were generally externally motivated, in that they relied on coaches, trainers, and teammates for motivation to engage in physical
Participation in sport, particularly in adults is shown to be rapidly decreasing. In The general Household Survey (2002, cited in National statistics) it was discovered that with the exclusion of walking, only 43% of the population had participated in some form of exercise in the four weeks prior to the research interview. It is accepted with recent statistics that participation rates in the UK are not adhering to the advised five times a week from the Department of Health, the author feels this is a worrying reality as there are many health implications resulting from a national neglect towards exercise.
Sports programs have been an integral part of all schools. They support the academics of the school and therefore foster success in life. These programs are educational and help produce productive citizenship. They help students experience and build skills that may help them in their future, like interpersonal and time management skills. Education may kindle the light of knowledge, but sports help to maintain the proper physique. Sports are also an important means of entertainment and a use for energy after long hours of study. Sports increase a student’s performance not only in the classroom but also in their life.
Opponents of physical education in schools state that gym is not the best way to utilize students’ time. Students’ should be given the choice to participate in gym class or not because many students aren’t as athletic and don’t enjoy it enough to want to do it in school. Despite this downfall, PE is important in students’ life and even though some don’t enjoy it as much, they need it in order to be successful in life. If not, diseases and health risks could come up and it wouldn’t be robust. Ultimately, physical education provides superior benefits.
According to Gómez-López, Gallegos & Extremera (2010) in their study of the perceived barriers by university students in the practice of physical activities, the researchers have cited structural and interpersonal constraints as the main reasons for students choosing to be inactive. Similar to other international students, Brunei students studying in Leeds are likely to face unique challenges in terms of not having the social network of friends with similar interests or values to participate in campus recreational sports.
There exists various lifestyles and behaviours, ranging from amount of nutrition intake, mental well-being, to the amount of physical activity engaged individually. Weighing the abundance of factors, this essay primarily aims to focus on the aspect of physical activity in relevance to how it possibly affects one's lifestyle. By cross-referencing to other lifestyles and behaviours, this essay will also demonstrate the importance of physical activity in possibly alleviating the issues raised pertaining to other lifestyles as well. Throughout this essay, there will be frequent references to the socio-ecological framework in examining the aforementioned factors.
Countless studies have shown that people who exercise live longer, have healthier bodies, and are in a more positive psychological state than those who don’t. The most beneficial of daily exercise has been the main focus for many individuals who take on/up a daily physical exercise program. Exercise may offer considerable potential alone or as an adjunct in improving the mental well-being of many people. As we all know that physical exercise has proven beneficial to cardiovascular health, improving cholesterol levels, decreasing the chances of contracting colds and flu, as well as lowering high blood pressure. Also, regular exercise carries insignificant harmful side effects. Although these factors alone are enough reasons for a lifelong
A Surgeon General's report (Anonymous,1996) addresses the finding that continuous and consistent physical activity is proven to enhance longevity and the quality of life for people of all ages. Furthermore, the report notes that although it has been recognized for years that regular physical activity can lead to substantial health benefits, 60% of American adults are not regularly active, and 25% of the adult population are not active at all. Paffenbarger (1996) states that physical fitness and exercise can reduce the risk of diseases such as heart disease, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, some cancers, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, and obesity. Studies also show that exercise can promote psychological well-being and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression (http://www.medgraph.com/aboutexercise.html).
Sport and exercise psychology is a mandatory aspect of the sport science discipline. This discipline contributes to the various professional practices associated with physical activities such as - teaching of physical education, recreation and health promotion, and kinesiology related professions - because it plays a mental role for the participants. Sport and exercise psychologists view physical activity in several different ways: physical activity as a tool for health, physical activity as a tool for human potential, and physical activity as a tool for social change. This aspect of psychology may be the most important aspect of physical activity, because of the contributions of exercise and sport psychology to health, human potential, and social change.