Motivation of pupils to physical activity in selected secondary schools in the Námestovo

Abstract

This article aimed to investigate the knowledge about students' motivation that influences engagement in physical activity. We also investigated the differences in the values of the different groups of motives with subsequent comparisons of motives in terms of gender, type of secondary school, and participation in physical activities. Participants in the study were 110 students (n =32 boys) and (n =78 girls) in age 16-20 years with a mean age of 17.32 years, attending the 2nd and 4th year of two secondary schools. We used the standardized Motivation for Physical Activity Measures-Revised (MPAM-R) questionnaire to collect research data. We used percentage analysis and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test to process the collected data. We found that the dominant motive from the group of motives to pursue physical activity from both high schools was the interest/enjoyment motive. The least frequent motive is the social motive. We found statistically significant differences between grammar school and vocational secondary school pupils in the motive fitness/fitness and between sporting and non-sporting pupils in the motive’s fitness/fitness and competence/challenge. When comparing the motives of sporting and non-sporting secondary vocational school students, we found a statistically significant difference in the motive’s interest/experience, appearance, and fitness/competence.