Influencing Factors of Women's Sports Participation Based on Self-Determination Theory: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Overview

Journal Psychol Res Behav Manag

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2024 Aug 13

PMID 39136006

Authors

Songbiao Zhang

Jiawen Huang

Huilin Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: The lack of physical exercise is a global health concern, particularly affecting women. However, there is limited research on factors influencing women's sports participation. Recent studies on increasing women's physical activity levels differ in methodologies and conclusions. Motivation, as the cornerstone of most human behaviors, has important effects on female motor participation. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is an important method to study human behavioral motivation and supported by empirical evidence. In the field of women's sports, the SDT is also widely used. This review explores the impact of SDT-related factors on women's sports participation, considering age variations. It aims to guide future empirical research and promote PA across demographics.

Methods: This review, by searching the existing empirical literature in Web of Science, Google Scholar, Elsevier ScienceDirect, CNKI, obtained 32 independent studies, conducted a meta-analysis after coding them, considering 11 influencing factors from the integration of SDT and Basic Psychological Needs Theory.

Results/conclusion: The study found a significant positive correlation between autonomous motivation and women's sports participation, with identified regulation having the strongest influence. Controlled motivation showed no significant impact on women's exercise, while amotivation had an inhibitory effect. Enhancing women's perception of autonomy, competence, and relatedness significantly promotes sports participation. Age differences were observed in the relationship between autonomous motivation, basic psychological needs, and sports participation, with the strongest effects on women aged 25-40, while the impact was relatively weaker in older women. The correlation between basic psychological needs and female sports participation also has a significant age difference. Thus, different measures should be taken to improve exercise participation in women of different age groups.

References

Beck F, Gillison F, Standage M . A theoretical investigation of the development of physical activity habits in retirement. Br J Health Psychol. 2009; 15(Pt 3):663-79. DOI: 10.1348/135910709X479096. View

Patrick K, Covin J, Fulop M, Calfas K, Lovato C . Health risk behaviors among California college students. J Am Coll Health. 1997; 45(6):265-72. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.1997.9936896. View

More K, Phillips L . The influence of body dissatisfaction on cardiovascular and strength-based physical activity by gender: a self-determination theory approach. Psychol Health. 2019; 34(12):1437-1450. DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2019.1614587. View

Gorely T, Atkin A, Biddle S, Marshall S . Family circumstance, sedentary behaviour and physical activity in adolescents living in England: Project STIL. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2009; 6:33. PMC: 2702353. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-6-33. View

Holtermann A, Schnohr P, Nordestgaard B, Marott J . The physical activity paradox in cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: the contemporary Copenhagen General Population Study with 104 046 adults. Eur Heart J. 2021; 42(15):1499-1511. PMC: 8046503. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab087. View

Lochbaum M, Stoner E, Hefner T, Cooper S, Lane A, Terry P . Sport psychology and performance meta-analyses: A systematic review of the literature. PLoS One. 2022; 17(2):e0263408. PMC: 8849618. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263408. View

Netz Y, Raviv S . Age differences in motivational orientation toward physical activity: an application of social-cognitive theory. J Psychol. 2004; 138(1):35-48. DOI: 10.3200/JRLP.138.1.35-48. View

Egli T, Bland H, Melton B, Czech D . Influence of age, sex, and race on college students' exercise motivation of physical activity. J Am Coll Health. 2011; 59(5):399-406. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2010.513074. View

Wang H, Zhang Q, Lin Y, Liu Y, Xu Z, Yang J . Keep Moving to Retain the Healthy Self: The Influence of Physical Exercise in Health Anxiety among Chinese Menopausal Women. Behav Sci (Basel). 2023; 13(2). PMC: 9952320. DOI: 10.3390/bs13020140. View

10.

Douglas K, Collins J, Warren C, Kann L, Gold R, Clayton S . Results from the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey. J Am Coll Health. 1997; 46(2):55-66. DOI: 10.1080/07448489709595589. View

11.

Seitz M, Levy J, Murphy B . Examining College Music Majors' Perceived Barriers and Motivation to Exercise. Med Probl Perform Art. 2020; 35(4):181-187. DOI: 10.21091/mppa.2020.4026. View

12.

Molanorouzi K, Khoo S, Morris T . Motives for adult participation in physical activity: type of activity, age, and gender. BMC Public Health. 2015; 15:66. PMC: 4314738. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-1429-7. View

13.

Mata J, Silva M, Vieira P, Carraca E, Andrade A, Coutinho S . Motivational "spill-over" during weight control: increased self-determination and exercise intrinsic motivation predict eating self-regulation. Health Psychol. 2009; 28(6):709-16. DOI: 10.1037/a0016764. View

14.

Godin G, Shephard R . A simple method to assess exercise behavior in the community. Can J Appl Sport Sci. 1985; 10(3):141-6. View

15.

Duncan L, Hall C, Wilson P, Jenny O . Exercise motivation: a cross-sectional analysis examining its relationships with frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010; 7:7. PMC: 2835648. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-7-7. View

16.

Galle F, Sabella E, Da Molin G, Parisi E, Liguori G, Montagna M . Physical Activity in Older Adults: An Investigation in a Metropolitan Area of Southern Italy. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(3). PMC: 7037864. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17031034. View

17.

Weiss M, Petlichoff L . Children's Motivation for Participation in and Withdrawal from Sport: Identifying the Missing Links. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2023; 1(3):195-211. DOI: 10.1123/pes.1.3.195. View

18.

Silva M, Vieira P, Coutinho S, Minderico C, Matos M, Sardinha L . Using self-determination theory to promote physical activity and weight control: a randomized controlled trial in women. J Behav Med. 2009; 33(2):110-22. DOI: 10.1007/s10865-009-9239-y. View

19.

Dinger M, Waigandt A . Dietary intake and physical activity behaviors of male and female college students. Am J Health Promot. 1997; 11(5):360-2. DOI: 10.4278/0890-1171-11.5.360. View

20.

Gallagher P, Yancy Jr W, Swartout K, Denissen J, Kuhnel A, Voils C . Age and sex differences in prospective effects of health goals and motivations on daily leisure-time physical activity. Prev Med. 2012; 55(4):322-324. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.07.017. View