Associations between life satisfaction, psysical activity and motivation

Kako suvremeni način života društvo čini sve inertnijim što se negativno odražava na zdravstveno stanje, tjelesna aktivnost se sve više nameće kao imperativ dobrog zdravlja i zadovoljstva životom. Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati povezanost zadovoljstva životom s tjelesnom aktivnosti, motivima i bihevioralnim regulacijama, kao i ispitati razlike u motivima i bihevioralnim regulacijama vezanim uz tjelesnu aktivnost u odnosu na spol i dobne skupine odraslih osoba. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 266 sudionika od čega je 65% žena i 35% muškaraca, prosječna dob iznosi 31 godinu. Ispitane su sociodemografske varijable, zadovoljstvo životom, intenzitet/učestalost vježbanja, motivi i bihevioralne regulacije vezane uz tjelesnu aktivnost. Podaci su prikupljeni putem online upitnika podijeljenog na društvene mreže i elektroničke pošte sudionika. Nalazi istraživanja pokazali su kako su žene motiviranije izgledom i tjelesnom kondicijom, kao i introjiciranom i identificiranom regulacijom, dok je na muškarce kod sudjelovanja u tjelesnoj aktivnosti više djelovala amotivacija. Stariji sudionici bili su motiviraniji interesom/uživanjem, kompetencijom, tjelesnom kondicijom te identificiranom i intrinzičnom regulacijom. Amotivacija i eksternalna regulacija značajno su više djelovale na mlađe sudionike. Zadovoljstvo životom pokazalo se pozitivno povezano s motivom interesa/uživanja i kompetencije, intrinzičnom i identificiranom regulacijom, a negativno povezano s amotivacijom i eksternalnom regulacijom. Motiv interes/uživanje pokazao se kao jedini prediktor zadovoljstva životom. Razumijevanje motivacije koja osobe potiče na sudjelovanje u tjelesnoj aktivnosti bitan je dio strategije unaprjeđenja zdravlja populacije i zauzima važno mjesto u razvoju i provođenju javnozdravstvenih programa u svijetu.A modern way of life makes society more inert which negatively reflects on health, thus physical activity is increasingly imposed as the imperative of good health and life satisfaction. The aim of this research was to examine the relationship between life satisfaction with physical activity, motives and behavioral regulations, as well as examine differences in motives and behavioral regulations related to physical activity in relation to different sex and age groups of adults. The study involved 266 participants of which 65% were women and 35% were men, the average age was 31 years. Examined were sociodemographic variables, life satisfaction, intensity/frequency of exercise, different motives and behavioral regulations related to physical activity. Data were collected through an online questionnaire that was distributed via social networks and electronic mails to the participants. Research findings have shown that women were more motivated by appearance and fitness, as well as introjected and identified regulation, while men when taking part in physical activity were more affected by amotivation. Older participants were more motivated by interest/enjoyment, competence, fitness as well as identified and intrinsic regulation. Amotivation and external regulation significantly more affected younger participants. Life satisfaction was positively associated with interest/enjoyment and competence motive, intrinsic and identified regulation, and negatively with amotivation and external regulation. Interest/enjoyment motive was shown as the only significant predictor of life satisfaction. Understanding motivation that encourages a person to participate in physical activity is an important part of the strategy for improving the population health and has a significant place in the development and implementation of public health programs in the world