A1 Journal article (refereed)
Motives for competitive sports participation in masters track and field athletes : Impact of sociodemographic factors and competitive background (2022)
Kontro, T. K., Bondarev, D., Pyykönen, K.-M., von Bonsdorff, M., Laakso, L., Suominen, H., & Korhonen, M. T. (2022). Motives for competitive sports participation in masters track and field athletes : Impact of sociodemographic factors and competitive background. PLoS ONE, 17(11), e0275900. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275900
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Kontro, Titta K.; Bondarev, Dmitriy; Pyykönen, Kukka-Maaria; von Bonsdorff, Mikaela; Laakso, Lauri; Suominen, Harri; Korhonen, Marko T.
Journal or series: PLoS ONE
eISSN: 1932-6203
Publication year: 2022
Publication date: 02/11/2022
Volume: 17
Issue number: 11
Pages range: e0275900
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication country: United States
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275900
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83786
Abstract
Masters athletes due to their lifelong engagement in sport represent a unique group to study motivation for regular physical activity, but there is less scientific data on the sport motives in masters athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association of age, sex, education, nationality, competitive background and training amount with sport motives of masters track and field athletes.
Methods
811 (254 women) athletes aged 35–89 years participated in European Veterans Athletics Championships in the year of 2000. Sport motives were assessed with a questionnaire and categorized into1) well-being, 2) competitive and performance 3) health and fitness motives.
Results
Men considered health and fitness motives more important than women (p = 0.022). Over 65-year-old athletes considered health and fitness motives more important than the youngest, 35-49-year age group (p<0.001). Education was not associated with sport motives, while motives varied significantly among different nationalities. Athletes from Nordic Countries considered well-being motives more important than Southern Europeans (p<0.001) or Western Europeans (p<0.05). Athletes from Nordic Countries (p = 0.003), Eastern Europe (p<0.001) and Central Europe (p<0.001) found health and fitness motives more meaningful than athletes from the British Isles. Furthermore, athletes with competitive background before the age of 35 and training amount more than 7.5 h a week found competitive and performance motives more important than athletes without a competitive history (p = 0.002).
Conclusions
These results suggest that age, sex, nationality and former athleticism are associated with sports motives among international level masters track and field athletes. It seems that while for masters athletes with competitive background performance motives dominate, for older adults, particularly for males, health and fitness motives are more important. In addition, when designing the exercise interventions for older adults, different sport motives across countries should be considered.
Keywords: sports; elderly; physical fitness; performance (capacity); physical training; health behaviour; health enhancing physical activity; health; physical activity
Free keywords: sports; Europe; physical fitness; human performance; exercise; elderly; behavioral and social aspects of health; physical activity
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2022
JUFO rating: 1
