Motivational attitudes towards participating in physical activity and perceived barriers amongst Junior College students

Abstract

This research study investigated the motivational attitudes towards participating in physical activity and perceived barriers amongst Junior College students. A descriptive, cross-sectional, survey design was used. The sample included a convenience sample of 400 students attending the G. F Abela Junior College in Malta. Questionnaires consisting of a section on personal demographic data, the Exercise Motivation Inventory-2 (Markland and Ingledew, 1997), and the Barriers to Being Active Quiz (US Department of Health and Human Services, 1999) were administered to the sample. Analysis of the data was done by calculating mean values for the Likert Scale items and doing significance testing through use of t-test and chi-squared. Participants were mostly female with a mean age of 16.86 years. Overall, 'Positive Health', 'Weight Management', and 'Strength & Endurance' were found to be the most significant motivational attitudes for which the students would exercise. Most participants found 'Lack of Time', 'Lack of Energy' , and 'Lack of Willpower' as perceived barriers from engaging in physical activity. Significant differences were also noted amongst gender. The main recommendations are to: emphasise the physical activity effects' on mental health, general health, appearance, weight, and fitness; to encourage males to take up physical activity which they enjoy, find challenging, induces competition, recognition, and helps them to build strength, while to encourage females to take up physical activity as a way to look good and be healthy; to teach students how to manage time during their day (short and frequent exercises should be held for female students; physical activity will not be tiring for females and will not require mastering any difficult skills).