Reasons for engaging in physical activity among students at a public university: a descriptive study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v61.110317Keywords:
physical activity, motivation, university students, health, well-beingAbstract
Physical activity plays an important role in promoting health and overall well-being, especially among university students who face a variety of physical, emotional, and academic challenges. The reasons for engaging in physical activity can vary significantly among individuals, influencing their level of commitment and the benefits they derive from this practice. The objective of the present research was to analyze the motives for engaging in physical activity among students at a public university. To achieve this, a quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 217 students of both sexes, to whom the Motives for Physical Activities Measure-Revised (MPAM-R), an instrument with adequate psychometric properties, was administered. The results indicated that the mean of the motives for engaging in physical activity was 3.91 (SD = 1.227), which, when compared to the maximum and minimum values, categorizes it at a medium level. The main identified motives were fitness (M = 4.13, SD = 1.395), enjoyment (M = 4.05, SD = 1.435), and competition (M = 4.13, SD = 1.395). Furthermore, it was observed that men exhibited a higher motivation for engaging in physical activity compared to women, a difference that was statistically significant (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the motives for engaging in physical activity among university students are at a medium level, with fitness, enjoyment, and competition being the main factors.
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