RESEARCH PAPER
The motivational function of an objective in physical activity and sport
Submission date: 2017-04-02
Final revision date: 2017-05-14
Acceptance date: 2017-08-21
Online publication date: 2017-12-14
Publication date: 2018-02-01
Current Issues in Personality Psychology 2018;6(1):57–66
KEYWORDS
Motivationsport psychologyexercisespro-healthy behaviourgoal-oriented behaviourmotivationpro-health behaviour
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background
As a conscious activity of an individual, physical activity (PA) constitutes an element of the free-time dimension. The type of goal allows us to distinguish between sport and PA: sport performance vs. psychophysical health. Drawing on the theory of the motivational function of an objective, this study examined the motivational function of an objective in physical activity and sport.
Participants and procedures
The sample consisted of 2141 individuals: 1163 women aged 16-64 years (M = 23.90, SD = 8.30) and 978 men aged 16-66 years (M = 24.50, SD = 9.40) who completed the Inventory of Physical Activity Objectives (IPAO), which includes the following scales: 1) motivational value, 2) time management, 3) persistence in action, and 4) motivational conflict. There are also questions that allow one to control for variables such as the variety of forms, duration, and frequency of PA, and socio-demographic variables.
Results
Males presented different motives of physical activity than females. Motives related to shapely body and health were more important for females. The most important motives for males were physical fitness and shapely body. The gender of participants moderates the motivational value of the specific objectives of physical activity and persistence in action.
Conclusions
With knowledge about the purposefulness of actions, it is possible to support and shape additional motivation experienced by an individual, by setting new, realistic objectives.
As a conscious activity of an individual, physical activity (PA) constitutes an element of the free-time dimension. The type of goal allows us to distinguish between sport and PA: sport performance vs. psychophysical health. Drawing on the theory of the motivational function of an objective, this study examined the motivational function of an objective in physical activity and sport.
Participants and procedures
The sample consisted of 2141 individuals: 1163 women aged 16-64 years (M = 23.90, SD = 8.30) and 978 men aged 16-66 years (M = 24.50, SD = 9.40) who completed the Inventory of Physical Activity Objectives (IPAO), which includes the following scales: 1) motivational value, 2) time management, 3) persistence in action, and 4) motivational conflict. There are also questions that allow one to control for variables such as the variety of forms, duration, and frequency of PA, and socio-demographic variables.
Results
Males presented different motives of physical activity than females. Motives related to shapely body and health were more important for females. The most important motives for males were physical fitness and shapely body. The gender of participants moderates the motivational value of the specific objectives of physical activity and persistence in action.
Conclusions
With knowledge about the purposefulness of actions, it is possible to support and shape additional motivation experienced by an individual, by setting new, realistic objectives.
REFERENCES (36)
1.
Aaltonen, S., Rottensteiner, M., Kaprio, J., & Kujala, U. (2014). Motives for physical activity among active and inactive persons in their mid-30s. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24, 727–773. doi: 10.1111/sms.12040.
2.
Ames, C. (1992). Achievement Goals, Motivational Climate, and Motivational Processes. In G. Roberts (ed.), Motivation in Sport and Exercise (pp. 161–176). Champaign: Human Kinetics.
3.
Bandura, A. (1989). Self-regulation of motivation and action through internal standards and goal system. In L. A. Pervin (ed.), Goal concepts in personality and social psychology (pp. 19–85). New York: Psychology Press.
4.
Benton, C., & Karazsia, B. T. (2015). The effect of thin and muscular images on women’s body satisfaction. Body image, 13, 22–27. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.11.001.
5.
Blecharz, J. (2002). Jak motywować mistrzów? [How to motivate champions?]. Sport Wyczynowy, 9, 453–454.
6.
Carifio, J., & Perla, R. J. (2007). Ten common misunderstandings, misconceptions, persistent myths and urban legends about Likert scales and Likert response formats and their antidotes. Journal of Social Sciences, 3, 106–116.
7.
CBOS. (2013). Aktywność fizyczna polaków [Physical activity of Polish people]. CBOS online. Retrieved from http://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL....
8.
Czepczor, K., Kościcka, K., & Brytek-Matera, A. (2016). Społeczno-kulturowe postawy wobec własnego wyglądu i niezadowolenie z ciała u kobiet i mężczyzn w okresie późnej adolescencji [The sociocultural attitudes towards appearance and body dissatisfaction among late adolescence: a pilot study]. Polskie Forum Psychologiczne, 21, 364–377. doi: 10.14656/PFP20160303.
9.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Flow and the psychology of discovery and invention. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.
10.
Davis, C., Fox, J., Brewer, H., & Ratusny, D. (1995). Motivations to exercise as a function of personality characteristics, age, and gender. Personality and individual differences, 19, 165–174.
11.
Deci, E., & Ryan, R. (1985). Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behaviour. New York: Plenum.
12.
Franken, R. E. (2005). Psychologia motywacji [Human motivation]. Gdańsk: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
13.
Hayes, A. F. (2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. New York: Guilford Press.
14.
Kozielecki, J. (2000). Koncepcje psychologiczne człowieka [Psychological concepts of human]. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Akademickie Żak.
15.
Kozielecki, J. (1987). Koncepcja transgresyjna człowieka [Transgressive concept of human]. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
16.
Kreitler S., & Kreitler, H. (1994). Goals and plans: The perspective of cognitive orientation. In Z. Zaleski (ed.), Psychology of Future Orientation (pp. 141–156). Lublin: Towarzystwo Naukowe KUL.
17.
Lipowska, M., Lipowski, M., & Jankowska, A. (2007). Determinants of Physical Attractiveness among Polish and Spanish Youth. In A. Chybicka & M. Kaźmierczak (eds.), Appreciating diversity – cultural and gender issues – vol II (pp. 293–310). Kraków: Oficyna Wydawnicza Impuls.
18.
Lipowski, M. (2006). Rekreacja ruchowa kobiet jako zachowanie prozdrowotne – uwarunkowania a motywy uczestnictwa [Physical activity of women as pro-health behaviour – determinants and motives of participation]. Gdańsk: Wydawnictwo Uczelniane Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego i Sportu.
19.
Lipowski, M., & Zaleski, Z. (2015). Inventory of Physical Activity Objectives (IPAO) – a new method in measuring motives for physical activity and sport. Health Psychology Report, 3, 47–58. doi: 10.5114/hpr.2015.49462.
20.
Li, F. (1999). The exercise motivation scale: its multifaceted structure and construct validity. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 11, 97–115. doi: 10.1080/10413209908402953.
21.
Litwiniuk, A. (1994). Uczestnictwo w sporcie a uczestnictwo w rekreacji fizycznej byłych Sportowców [Participation in sport and participation in physical recreation of former athletes]. Kultura Fizyczna, 3, 28–29.
22.
Markland, D., & Hardy, L. (1993). The exercise motivations inventory: preliminary development and validity of a measure of individuals’ reasons for participation in regular physical exercise. Personality & Individual Differences, 15, 289–296.
23.
Molanorouzi, K., Khoo, S., & Morris, T. (2015). Motives for adult participation in physical activity, BMC Public Health, 15, 66–78. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-1429-7.
24.
Molanorouzi, K., Khoo, S., & Morris T. (2014). Validating the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS). BMC Public Health, 14, 909–921.
25.
Nuttin, J. (2014). Future time perspective and motivation: Theory and research method. Psychology Press.
26.
Olszewski-Strzyżowski, J., & Drożdż, R. (2014). Motywy podejmowania aktywności fizycznej przez mieszkańców Elbląga [Motives for physical activity involvement of inhabitants of Elbląg]. Rozprawy Naukowe Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego we Wrocławiu, 47, 124–130.
27.
Pelletier, L. G., Tuson, K. M., Fortier, M. S., Vallerand, R. J., Briere, N. M., & Blais, M. R. (1995). Toward a new measure of intrisic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation in sports: The Sport Motivation Scale (SMS). Journal of sport and Exercise Psychology, 17, 35–53.
29.
Rogers, H., Morris, T., & Moore, M. (2008). A qualitative study of the achievement goals of recreational exercise participants. The Qualitative Report, 13, 706–734.
30.
Rothman, A. J. (2000). Toward a theory-based analysis of behavioral maintenance. Health Psychology, 19, 64–69. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.19.1.
31.
Runfola, C. D., Von Holle, A., Trace, S. E., Brownley, K. A., Hofmeier, S. M., Gagne, D. A., & Bulik, C. M. (2013). Body dissatisfaction in women across the lifespan: Results of the UNC‐SELF and gender and body image (GABI) studies. European Eating Disorders Review, 21, 52–59. doi: 10.1002/erv.2201.
32.
Ryan, R., Frederick, C., Lepes, D., Rubio, N., & Sheldon, K. (1997). Intrinsic motivation and exercise adherence. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 28, 235–254.
33.
Savitsky, K., Medvec, V. H., & Gilovich, T. (1997). Remembering and regretting: The Zeigarnik effect and the cognitive availability of regrettable actions and inactions. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23, 248–257. doi: 10.1177/0146167297233004.
34.
Tomaszewski, T. (1979). Wstęp do psychologii [Introduction to Psychology]. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
35.
Zaleski, Z. (1991). Psychologia zachowań celowych [Psychology of goal-directed behaviour]. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
36.
Zizzi, S. J., Keeler, L. A., & Watson, J. C. (2006). The interaction of goal orientation and stage of change on exercise behavior in college students. Journal of Sport Behavior, 29, 96–110.
Copyright: © Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk This is an Open Access journal, all articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.
RELATED ARTICLE
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.