Motivations for Physical Exercise Practice Among Students of a Technical Higher Education Institution: A Comparative Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15665/67qr7s10Keywords:
Physical activity, self-determination, motivation, basic psychological needsAbstract
This study, framed within Self-Determination Theory, explored the motives for physical exercise practice among students of a Technical Higher Education Institution in Bogotá. Sixty-seven volunteers participated by completing the BREQ-3 questionnaire. The results showed a predominantly self-determined motivational profile. No significant differences were found by sex (p > .05), and only a weak association was observed between older age and higher intrinsic motivation (rho = .25; p = .04). Standardized comparisons with previous studies based on effect sizes (Hedges) did not reveal statistically significant differences in the magnitude of the different motivation types, suggesting a motivational pattern similar to that reported in other contexts. Despite limitations related to the sample, this study contributes to the understanding of exercise motivation in the local setting, highlighting the relevance of Self-Determination Theory and the similarity of the motivational profile with international populations.
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