ABSTRACT

Purpose

Understanding motivations for participation in different types of physical activity and settings has important implications for growing, servicing and retaining participants. The aim of this study was to identify the motivations to engage in organised club-based sport and activity through fitness centres.

Methodology

Two surveys were conducted, of Australian adults, those playing sport or who were active through fitness centres.

Findings

4,509 adult survey respondents reported their motivations for participating in sport clubs (n = 3824) or fitness centres (n = 685). There were many significant differences in the motivations between the two groups. Overall, sport club participants were significantly more likely to report fun and enjoyment, and social reasons for a motivation to play compared to fitness centre users (p < 0.001). The fitness centre users were significantly more likely than the sport club participants to report physical health or fitness, to lose weight/keep weight off/tone and for psychological/mental health/therapy (p < 0.001).

Practical implications

These findings have implications for sport and fitness centre managers in terms of program design decisions. For example, motivations may inform the creation of options that lean more to social or health outcomes for new users.

Research contribution

This study uniquely investigates motivations for participation across organised sport clubs and fitness centres.

中文翻译：

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与健身中心相比，积极参加俱乐部运动的动机

摘要

目的

了解参与不同类型体育活动和环境的动机对于培养、服务和留住参与者具有重要意义。本研究的目的是确定通过健身中心参与有组织的俱乐部体育和活动的动机。

方法

对参加体育运动或通过健身中心锻炼的澳大利亚成年人进行了两项调查。

发现

4,509 名成人调查受访者报告了他们参加体育俱乐部 ( n  = 3824) 或健身中心 ( n  = 685) 的动机。两组之间的动机存在许多显着差异。总体而言，与健身中心用户相比，体育俱乐部参与者更有可能报告乐趣和享受以及运动动机的社会原因 ( p  < 0.001)。健身中心用户比体育俱乐部参与者更有可能报告身体健康或健身、减肥/保持体重/调整状态以及进行心理/心理健康/治疗 (p < 0.001 )  。

实际影响

这些发现对体育和健身中心管理者的项目设计决策具有重要意义。例如，动机可能会告知创建更倾向于新用户的社交或健康结果的选项。

研究贡献

这项研究独特地调查了有组织的体育俱乐部和健身中心的参与动机。