Exploring whether participatory motives relate to commitment and lapses differently in adult sportspersons and exercisers

Abstract

Structured physical activity (PA) programs that accommodate personal motivational preferences can promote sustained participation (Weiss & Amorose, 2008). Thus, it is important to explore whether sport and exercise programs cater to different motivational profiles (Kilpatrick et al., 2005). This study examined how various participatory motives for PA were differentially associated with commitment and lapses in sportspersons and exercisers. 252 (MAge=47.20; range=35-57yrs) self-identified sportspersons (n=108) and exercisers (n=144) completed online questionnaires to report their PA motives (EMI-2; Markland & Ingledew, 1997), commitment levels (Scanlan et al., 1993) and frequency of lapses (Simkin & Gross, 1994). Exploratory factor analyses determined important motives in each of sport and exercise contexts. A series of simultaneous regressions examined associations between these motives and commitment/lapses, and hierarchical regressions employed interactive terms to determine whether such associations differed as a function of PA context. Enjoyment and health motives were highly important for sportspersons and exercisers alike, whereas competition and social affiliation were more important to sportspersons. Enjoyment (B=.20, p=.009), social affiliation (B=.13, p=.05), and stress relief (B=.12, p=.08) predicted commitment for sportspersons and exercisers alike. Sportspersons’ commitment was also uniquely related to appearance (B=-.26, p=.006) and personal goals and challenges (B=.17, p=.06) motives. Stress relief motives buffered against lapsing (B=-.61, p=.05) for both sportspersons and exercisers, whereas health related motives only buffered against lapsing for exercisers, yet were positively associated with lapsing for sportspersons. Discussion focuses on how programmers might consider between-context differences when programming organized PA to better accommodate and motivate adults.