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Gender Differences in Motivation and Barriers for The Practice of Physical Exercise in Adolescence

2019; Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute; Volume: 17; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3390/ijerph17010168

1661-7827

Iago Portela-Pino, Antonio López Castedo, Maria José Martínez‐Patiño, Teresa Valverde Esteve, José Domínguez Alonso,

Physical Activity and Health

A total of 852 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age were evaluated (M = 14.86, SD = 1.67), randomly selected among a population of secondary school and Baccalaureate students. We applied an “ad hoc” questionnaire on sociodemographic data and the Self-Report of Reasons for the Practice of Physical Exercise (AMPEF) and Self-Report of Barriers to the Practice of Physical Exercise (ABPEF) questionnaires. The results obtained show a prevalence of competition, social recognition, and challenge as motivational factors, and fatigue or laziness as barriers to physical exercise among adolescents. With respect to gender, boys show a greater presence of motivations towards doing physical exercise, while girls show more barriers. In conclusion, the motivational factors and barriers interact and support each other for a better predisposition towards physical exercise.