Motivation and intention to integrate physical activity into daily school life: the JAM World Record event

Health Promot Pract. 2014 Nov;15(6):819-27. doi: 10.1177/1524839914541278. Epub 2014 Jul 7.

Abstract

Research on the motivation of stakeholders to integrate physical activity into daily school life is limited. The purpose was to examine the motivation of stakeholders to participate in a world record physical activity event and whether motivation was associated with future intention to use activity breaks during the daily school life and future participation in a similar event. After the 2012 JAM (Just-a-Minute) World Record event, 686 adults (591 women; 76.1% participated for children <10 years) completed measures of motivational regulations and future intention to (a) use the activity breaks and (b) participate in the event. High intrinsic motivation and low extrinsic motivation and amotivation for participation in the next event were reported. Hierarchical regression analysis, controlling for age, gender, and occupation, showed that intrinsic forms of motivation positively predicted, whereas amotivation negatively predicted, future intention to participate in the event and use the activity breaks. Multivariate analyses of variance revealed that school-related participants were more intrinsically motivated and intended to use the activity breaks and repeat the event more than those who were not affiliated with a school. Nonschool participants reported higher extrinsic motivation and amotivation than school-related participants.

Keywords: activity breaks; school personnel; self-determination theory.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anniversaries and Special Events
  • Child
  • Data Collection
  • Faculty
  • Female
  • Guideline Adherence / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Plan Implementation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Intention
  • Internet
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation*
  • Motor Activity*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Physical Education and Training / standards
  • Physical Education and Training / statistics & numerical data*
  • Schools* / standards
  • Students
  • Workforce
  • Young Adult