Motives for Female Adolescents Participation in Physical Activity Essa

It has been demonstrated that there is a strong correlation between age and physical activity. The amount of physical activity declines significantly as age increases. This correlation has been found to be true regardless of gender. However, research has shown that the participation in regular physical activity declines more in females than males (Butt Joanne, Robert Weinberg, Jeff Breckon & Randal Claytor, 2011). Studies have been conducted to investigate explanations for the decline in participation in physical activity. Exploring the motives and goals for participation gave a better understanding for the decrease in physical activity. Reasons for participation in physical activity among female adolescents were both intrinsic and extrinsic. Goals and motives for physical activity in the two contexts resonate with concepts and ideas of the Self-Determination Theory (O'Dougherty Maureen, Kurzer Mindy & Schmitz Kathryn, 2010). The Self-Determination Theory possesses the idea that participation in physical activity comes from both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is described as motivation associated with enjoyment to the activity whereas extrinsic motivation is externally imposed (O'Dougherty Maureen, Kurzer Mindy & Schmitz Kathryn, 2010). The continuum of self-regulation is central to this theory. Proposed by this theory is the idea a person’s level or intensity of self-regulation varies on a continuum. These variations have important implications for the individual’s physical and mental well being (Puente Rogelio & Anshel Mark, 2009). The four types of regulation are expressed in the Self-Determination Theory. The four types of regulation are external, introjected, identification, and integrated. Exter... ...ary, (2010). Coping with â€Å"bad body image days†: Strategies from first-year young adult college women. Body Image, 8(4), 335-342. Jankauskiene Rasa. , & Kardelis Kestutis, (2005). Body image and weight reduction attempts among adolescent girls involved in physical activity. Medicina (Kaunas), 41(9), 796-801. O'Dougherty Maureen. , Kurzer Mindy, S., & Schmitz Kathryn, H. (2010). Shifting motivations: Young women’s reflections on physical activity over time and across contexts. Health Educ Behaviors, 37(4), 1-19. Puente Rogelio. , & Anshel Mark, H. (2009). Exercisers’ perceptions of their fitness instructor. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 51, 38-45. Sanda Solfrid, B., & Borgen Jorunn, (2011). Symptoms of eating disorders, drive for muscularity and physical activity among norwegian adolescents. European Eating Disorder Review, doi: 10.1002/erv.1156