University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Psychological Motivation Factors that Enhance Confidence and Participation in Sports Among Students with Poor Physical Fitness

Si, Luyang; Zhao, Lifan; Zhang, Weiyi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129078

Description

Title
Psychological Motivation Factors that Enhance Confidence and Participation in Sports Among Students with Poor Physical Fitness
Author(s)
  • Si, Luyang
  • Zhao, Lifan
  • Zhang, Weiyi
Contributor(s)
Darch, Peter
Issue Date
2025-04
Keyword(s)
Sports psychology, Motivation, Data Quality
Date of Ingest
2025-09-21T14:24:55-05:00
Abstract
Participating in physical activities can significantly improve people’s physical and mental health. While these benefits are well-established, a sustained portion of the population remains disinclined to engage in physical activities. This research project investigates motivational factors for individuals who require sports intervention to address physical and/or mental health concerns. Methodologically, we conducted a survey of 184 university students to examine participants' sports backgrounds. For regular participants in physical activities, the investigation focused on motivational factors, sports experiences, and perspectives on sports psychology. For non-participants, the study examined perceived barriers and health status. Finally, all respondents completed the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), a validated instrument measuring how individuals treat themselves during challenging circumstances. Preliminary data analysis revealed that 96.7% of physically active participants acknowledged the critical role of psychological factors in sports, especially in competitive outcomes between similarly skilled competitors. Additionally, 84% believed a positive mental state could help a less skilled athlete outperform a more skilled competitor. Among non-participants, the primary barrier was a busy schedule, cited by a higher proportion of males. SCS analysis showed an average score of 3.21 (SD = 0.49), with 65.5% classified as moderate, 26.9% high, and 7.6% low, reinforcing the link between mental resilience and sports motivation
Type of Resource
Slides
Language
eng

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