Study Regarding the Motives of Children Participation in Sport Activities

Dana Maria CIOCAN; Alexandra MILON

doi:10.18662/lumproc.rsacvp2017.15

Dana Maria CIOCAN PhD., ”Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău, Romania
Alexandra MILON Alexandra Milon, PhD., ”Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău, Romania

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18662/lumproc.rsacvp2017.15

Keywords: children, sport, motivation, participation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the participation motives of children from different sports and examine the reasons why they are continuing or quitting the athletic activity. The study was conducted on 66 girls and 31 boys practicing various sports in Bacau. The average age of the participants was 10.5 years. We constructed a questionnaire to identify the children’s motivation to practice sports, their maintaining interest in practicing sports and the motives they have to quit or change their sport. The subjects were practicing the following sports: badminton, basketball, handball, tennis, combat sports, swimming, dance, volleyball and track and field. Boys spend more time vigorously exercising and competing in competitive sports than girls. The results of the study show that the girls are oriented toward sports that do not expose or harm their body and prefer individual sports or collaborative sports. It can be concluded that based on the average values of each of the participation motives, “to be appreciated by friends and family” and “to be part of a group of friends” were the most important reasons for the subjects. The motives of dropping out of sports appear to be: lack of positive role models, lack of access, safety and transportation issues, social stigma, decreased quality of experience and cost.

References

[1] Fredricks JA, Eccles JS. Children’s competence and value beliefs from childhood through adolescence: Growth trajectories in two male-sex-typed domains. Developmental Psychology. 2002; 38: 519–533.
[2] Fredricks JA, Eccles JS. Is extracurricular participation associated with beneficial outcomes? Concurrent and longitudinal relations. Developmental Psychology. 2006; 42: 698–713.
[3] Epuran M, Holdevici I, Toniţa F. Psihologia Sportului de performanţă, Teorie şi Practică.[Psychology of professional sports. Theory and practice]. Bucharest: FEST Publishing House; 2008.
[4] McDonough MH, Crocker PRE. Sport Participation motivation in Young Adolescent Girls. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 2005; 76(4): 456–467. Available from: http://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2005.10599319
[5] Ball JW, Bice MR, Parry T. Adults’ Motivation for Physical Activity: Differentiating Motives for Exercise, Sport, and Recreation. RSJ. 2014; 38(2).
[6] Çağrı ÇM. The role of gender and parental attitudes upon the sports participation motivation among the table tennis players who studied at the university. International Journal of Academic Research. 2013; 5(1): 136–142.
[7] Roy Chowdhury D. Examining reasons for participation in sport and exercise using the physical activity and leisure motivation scale (PALMS) (Doctoral dissertation, Victoria University). 2012.
[8] Marcen C, Gimeno F, Gomez C, Saenz A, Gutierrez H. Socioeconomic Status, Parental Support, Motivation and Self-Confidence in Youth Competitive Sport. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2013; 82: 750 – 754.
[9] Weiss MR, Petlichkoff LM. Children’s Motivation for Participation In and Withdrawal From Sport: Identifying the Missing Links. Pediatric Exercise Science. 1989; 1(3).
[10] Wigfield A, Eccles JS, Yoon KS, Harold RD, Arbreton AJ, Freedman-Doan C, Blumenfeld PC. Change in children’s competence beliefs and subjective task values across the elementary school years: A 3-year study. Journal of Educational Psychology. 1997; 89: 451–469. Available from: doi: 10.1037/0022-0663. 89.3.451
[11] Eime RM, Young JA, Harvey JT, Charity MJ, Payne WR. A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for children and adolescents: Informing development of a conceptual model of health through sport. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2013; 10 (98). Available from: doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-10-98.
[12] Lavallee D, Kremer J, Moran AP, Williams M. Sport Psychology. London: Palgrave Macmillan. 2003.
[13] Mayer JD, Faber MA, Xu X. Seventy-five years of motivation measures (1930–2005): a descriptive analysis. Motiv. Emot. 2007; 31: 83–103. Available from: doi: 10.1007/s11031-007-9060-2
[14] Kesend O, Murphy SM. Participation motivation in elite athletes: A developmental perspective. Paper presented at the 7th World Congress in Sport Psychology, Singapore. 1989 Aug.
[15] Lupu E. Motion activities and their importance in the physical and intellectual development of the institutionalized children. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2010. 5: 2140–2145.
[16] Gould D, Feltz D, Weiss MR, Petlichkoff L. Participation motives in competitive youth swimmers. In Orlick T, Partington JT, & Salmela JH, editors. Mental training for coaches and athletes. Ottawa, Canada: Coaching Association of Canada; 1982. 57-59 p.
[17] Golu M. Bazele psihologiei generale [Bases of general psychology]. Bucharest: Editura Universitară; 2002.
[18] Lavallee D, Kremer J, Moran AP, Williams M. Sport Psychology. London: Palgrave Macmillan. 2003.