Students’ Motivation for Sport Activity and Participation in University Sports: A Mixed-Methods Study
Table 2
Factor analysis of 24 items on reasons for being physically active in German university students (NuPhA Study).
I do sports…
Factor loadings
Strongly disagree (%)
Disagree (%)
Neither agree or disagree (%)
Agree (%)
Strongly agree (%)
Mean (SD) / Median (IQR)
Factor 1: Life balance
…because it helps reducing anxiety, stress and worries
.823
6.5
7.6
9.9
35.3
40.7
3.95 (1.19) / 4 (1)
…because I need to balance out my everyday life
.791
3.9
4.7
5.5
34.8
51.0
4.23 (1.04) / 5 (1)
…because it distracts me from problems
.721
9.4
18.9
18.9
28.7
24.1
3.39 (1.29) / 4 (2)
…to blow off steam
.700
9.0
14.3
15.2
34.4
27.0
3.57 (1.28) / 4 (2)
…because it relaxes me
.626
3.6
6.6
12.6
40.6
36.5
4.00 (1.09) / 4 (1)
Factor 2: Fitness
…to keep fit
.833
0.8
1.7
2.4
41.0
54.1
4.47 (0.69) / 5 (1)
…because it is healthy
.755
1.1
2.2
5.1
34.9
56.7
4.45 (0.77) / 5 (1)
…to improve my performance
.737
1.4
2.1
6.6
42.2
47.6
4.34 (0.79) / 4 (1)
…because it strengthens my muscles
.687
0.9
3.2
6.6
41.6
47.6
4.33 (0.79) / 4 (1)
…because it makes me feel good
.542
0.6
1.1
2.8
22.2
73.3
4.66 (0.66) / 5 (1)
Factor 3: Body Image
…because it makes me look slim
.855
15.1
14.6
19.5
34.9
16.0
3.20 (1.31) / 4 (2)
…because it helps me to prevent weight gain
.840
17.4
12.3
13.9
37.8
18.6
3.26 (1.38) / 4 (2)
…because I have weight problems
.735
43.9
19.1
13.9
15.0
8.1
2.22 (1.36) / 2 (2)
…because I do something for my physique
.642
5.5
8.2
12.3
41.6
32.3
3.86 (1.13) / 4 (2)
…because I can maintain my sporty appearance afterwards
.541
9.5
13.4
22.6
33.2
21.3
3.43 (1.23) / 4 (1)
….because I look better afterwards
.516
4.3
9.5
17.9
36.6
31.7
3.83 (1.11) / 4 (2)
…because it improves my self-perception
.379
4.1
6.8
16.9
43.3
28.9
3.86 (1.04) / 4 (2)
Factor 4: Contact to others
…because it strengthens my friendships
.879
24.7
21.7
25.5
21.1
7.0
2.64 (1.25) / 3 (2)
...because it helps me maintaining my contacts
.847
26.4
21.4
23.3
21.4
7.6
2.62 (1.29) / 3 (3)
…because sport gives me the possibility to do something in company of others
.812
16.6
19.2
20.9
31.5
11.7
3.01 (1.29) / 3 (2)
…because my friends also exercise
.808
17.8
21.7
19.5
26.0
14.9
2.98 (1.34) / 3 (2)
Factor 5: Fun
…because it is my hobby
.544
3.8
9.2
12.9
26.7
47.5
4.06 (1.15) / 4 (2)
…to measure my strength with others
.541
39.6
24.3
18.3
12.6
5.2
2.20 (1.24) / 2 (2)
…because it is fun
.491
1.0
4.8
7.9
30.6
55.8
4.37 (0.88) / 5 (1)
Factor analysis with oblimin rotation; Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin=0.871, Bartlett<0.001; n=602; only students being physically active answered the question on the reasons. SD = standard deviation; IQR = interquartile range.
