ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana - Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2019 October;178(10):799-806

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.18.03965-7

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Motivation for physical activity of people of different ages

Roman S. NAGOVITSYN ✉, Alexander V. TUTOLMIN, Yuri G. MAKSIMOV, Irina A. DIMOVA, Alvard A. KAROYAN, Darya Y. SKRYABINA, Sergei A. VOLKOV

Faculty of Pedagogical and Art Education, Glazov State Pedagogical University, Glazov, Russia

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to reveal the dynamics of changes in motivation to physical activity from the age group of senior students and students to the working population and pensioners, by identifying the main groups of motives and the levels of motivation of the population for physical exercises.
METHODS: Longitudinal observation of participants (N.=796) was performed. The study used express diagnostics of the subject’s motivation for physical activity. All participants are engaged in physical culture or sports at least once a week. Four focus groups were identified for the experiment. A comparative analysis was carried out in: group A (schoolchildren of educational institutions): 15.5±1.5 years (N.=210); group B (students of institutes or universities): 22±3.5 years (N.=256); group C (working youth): 33±6 years (N.=122); group D (working before retirement age or pensioners): 48±7 years (N.=108).
RESULTS: Based on theoretical research, the main groups of motives were identified (N.=12). The population’s motivation for physical activity varies significantly with age, from administrative and aesthetic motives to health-improving and psychologically significant groups of motives. Wave-like dynamics of increasing the level of motivation by age characteristics are revealed. From the average level of schoolchildren to low - for students, then high for working young people to average for the working population of retirement age and retirees.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the research testify to the need to improve the process of physical education in various educational institutions: secondary schools, institutes and universities. Particularly relevant is the search for new non-traditional forms of physical activity for the younger generation. And it is also necessary to implement measures to support people of pre-retirement and retirement ages of the Russian Federation to find a worthy place in the micro and macro physical culture and health.

KEY WORDS: Physical activity; Motivation; Age groups