Motivational analysis comparing three contexts of physical activity

This study analysed the motivational differences between physical education students, athletes, and non-competitive exercisers. Furthermore, the predictive power of perceived motivational climate and types of motivation regarding the autotelic experience propensity in the three contexts was examined. Three different samples were used: 895 physical education students, 413 athletes, and 727 non-competitive exercisers. Regression analysis showed that task-involving climate and intrinsic motivation positively and significantly predicted the autotelic experience in the three contexts, hence, the importance of promoting this type of motivational climate. However, the results revealed that there were motivational differences between the contexts of physical education, competitive sports, and non-competitive exercise. The results are discussed in relation to the different features (e.g. competitive, recreational, voluntary or obligatory) of the physical activity in each of the contexts in this study.