Motivations to Engage in Physical Activity Among Non-traditional College Students at a Hispanic-serving Institution

Jacob Michael EUBANK, Em V. ADAMS, Hyangmi KIM

Abstract


Exercise motivations for undergraduate college students vary for numerous reasons. Regardless of those reasons, it is important for higher education administrators to understand these motivations to provide opportunities that increase exercise behavior. Undergraduate students attending a Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI) in a metro area in the northeast region of the United States were administered the Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 (EMI-2) (N = 140) to ascertain their motivations to engage in physical activity (PA), particularly to compare the differences between traditional (TS) and non-traditional (NTS) college students. Three variations (i.e., age, children, and employment status) were used to compare the different motivations to engage in PA. NTS over 25 years old or having children scored significantly higher on the physical and psychological health-related motivations (e.g., ill-health avoidance, positive health, stress management, and revitalization). TS scored significantly higher on social-related motivations (e.g., affiliation and competition). There was no significant difference in motivation to engage in PA between students’ employment status. Results highlight different motivations to engage in PA between TS and NTS. This article presents tailored interventions for specific student cohorts to promote an increase in PA participation at HSI.

Keywords: Exercise Motivation, Hispanic-Serving Institution, Non-Traditional College Students, Physical Activity, Traditional College Students


Full Text:

PDF

References


Agresti, A., & Finlay, B. (2014). Statistical methods for the social sciences (4th ed.). Pearson Education Limited.

Amatriain-Fernández, S., Gronwald, T., Murillo-Rodríguez, E.S., Machado, S., & Budde, H (2020). Benefits of physical activity and physical exercise in the time of pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(1), S264-S266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000643

American College Health Association. (2020). American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment III: Undergraduate Student Reference Group Data Report Fall 2019. American College Health Association.

Arredondo, E. M., Sotres-Alvarez, D., Stoutenberg, M., Davis, S. M., Crespo, N. C., Carnethon, M. R., Castañeda, S. F., Isasi, C. R., Espinoza, R. A., Daviglus, M. L., Perez, L. G., & Evenson, K. R. (2016). Physical activity levels in U.S. Latino/Hispanic adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 50(4), 500–508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2015.08.029

Bastos, A. de A., Salguero, A., González-Boto, R., & Marquez, S. (2006). Motives for participation in physical activity by Brazilian adults. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 102(2), 358–367. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.102.2.358-367

Beck, F., Gillison, F., & Standage, M. (2010). A theoretical investigation of the development of physical activity habits in retirement. British Journal of Health Psychology, 15(3), 663–679. https://doi.org/10.1348/135910709X479096

Bennett, S., Evans, T., & Riedle, J. (2007). Comparing academic motivation and accomplishments among traditional, nontraditional, and distance education college students. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 12(4), 154–161. https://doi.org/10.24839/1089-4136.JN12.4.154

Blankenship, D. (2010). Applied research and evaluation methods in recreation. Human Kinetics, Inc.

Brunet, J., & Sabiston, C. M. (2011). Exploring motivation for physical activity across the adult lifespan. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 12(2), 99–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2010.09.006

Buckworth, J., Lee, R. E., Regan, G., Schneider, L. K., & DiClemente, C. C. (2007). Decomposing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for exercise: Application to stages of motivational readiness. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 8(4), 441–461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2006.06.007

Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success. (2015). Yesterday’s non-traditional student is today’s traditional student. The Center for Law and Social Policy.

Chan, J.S.Y., Liu, G., Liang, D., Deng, K., Wu, J., & Yan, J.H. (2019). Special issue – Therapeutic benefits of physical activity for mood: A systematic review on the effects of exercise intensity, duration, and modality. Journal of Psychology, 153(1), 102-125. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2018.1470487

Coleman, K. J., & Gonzalez, E. C. (2001). Promoting stair use in a US–Mexico border community. American Journal of Public Health, 91(12), 2007–2009. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.91.12.2007

Dozier, S. G. H., Schroeder, K., Lee, J., Fulkerson, J. A., & Kubik, M. Y. (2020). The association between parents and children meeting physical activity guidelines. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 52, 70–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.03.007

Egli, T., Bland, H. W., Melton, B. F., & Czech, D. R. (2011). Influence of age, sex, and race on college students’ exercise motivation of physical activity. Journal of American College Health, 59(5), 399–406. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2010.513074

Emm-Collison, L. G., Jago, R., Salway, R., Thompson, J. L., & Sebire, S. J. (2019). Longitudinal associations between parents’ motivations to exercise and their moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 43, 343–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.04.007

Espinosa, L. L., Turk, J. M., Taylor, M., & Chessman, H.M. (2019). Race and ethnicity in higher education: A status report. American Council on Education.

Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Lang, A.-G., & Buchner, A. (2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39(2), 175-191. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193146

Hamilton, K., White, K. M., & Cuddihy, T. (2012). Using a single-item physical activity measure to describe and validate parents’ physical activity patterns. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 83(2), 340-345. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2012.10599865

Kavetsos, G. (2011). The impact of physical activity on employment. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 40(6), 775–779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2011.08.011

Kilpatrick, M., Hebert, E., & Bartholomew, J. (2005). College students’ motivation for physical activity: Differentiating men’s and women’s motives for sport participation and exercise. Journal of American College Health, 54(2), 87–94. https://doi.org/10.3200/JACH.54.2.87-94

Kim, S. & Cho, D. (2022). Validation of Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 (EMI-2) Scale for college students. Journal of American College Health, 70(1), 114-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1726929

Kulavic, K., Hultquist, C. N., & McLester, J. R. (2013). A comparison of motivational factors and barriers to physical activity among traditional versus nontraditional college students. Journal of American College Health, 61(2), 60–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2012.753890

Kwan, M.Y, Cairney, J., Faulkner, G.E., & Pullenayegum, E.E. (2012). Physical activity and other health-risk behaviors during the transition into early adulthood: A longitudinal cohort study. Am J Prev Med, 42(1), 14–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2011.08.026

Lauderdale, M. E., Yli-Piipari, S., Irwin, C. C., & Layne, T. E. (2015). Gender differences regarding motivation for physical activity among college students: A self-determination approach. The Physical Educator, 72(5), 153-172. https://doi.org/10.18666/TPE-2015-V72-I5-4682

Leung, K.M., Ransdell, L.B., Gao, Y., Shimon, J., Lucas, S., & Pak-Kwong, C. (2016). Predictors of physical activity on a college campus with a high proportion of non-traditional students. California Journal of Health Promotion, 14(1), 44-56. https://doi.org/10.32398/cjhp.v14i1.1864

Linder, A.D., Liu, H., Woodson-Smith, A., & Jung, J. (2018). Physical activity behaviors among non-traditional and traditional college students: An application of Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior. Negro Educational Review, 69(1-4), 33-50.

Markland, D., & Ingledew, D. K. (1997). The measurement of exercise motives: Factorial validity and invariance across gender of a revised Exercise Motivations Inventory. British Journal of Health Psychology, 2(4), 361–376. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8287.1997.tb00549.x

Miller, A. M., & Iris, M. (2002). Health promotion attitudes and strategies in older adults. Health Education & Behavior, 29(2), 249–267. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019810202900209

Naisseh, M., Martinent, G., Ferrand, C., & Hautier, C. (2015). Relationship between parents’ motivation for physical activity and their beliefs, and support of their children’s physical activity: A cluster analysis. Psychological Reports, 117(1), 230–243. https://doi.org/10.2466/06.21.PR0.117c17z0

National Center for Education Statistics. (2020). Definitions and data: Who is nontraditional? Fast Facts; National Center for Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs/web/97578e.asp

Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., & Flegal, K. M. (2014). Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011-2012. JAMA, 311(8), 806. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.732

Pauline, J. S. (2013). Physical activity behaviors, motivation, and self-efficacy among college students. College Student Journal, 47(1), 64-74.

Ruiz, R., Gesell, S. B., Buchowski, M. S., Lambert, W., & Barkin, S. L. (2011). The relationship between Hispanic parents and their preschool-aged children’s physical activity. PEDIATRICS, 127(5), 888–895. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-1712

Ryan, J., Lyon, K., Webb, O. J., Eves, F. F., & Ryan, C. G. (2011). Promoting physical activity in a low socioeconomic area: Results from an intervention targeting stair climbing. Preventive Medicine, 52(5), 352–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.03.004

Solomon-Moore, E., Sebire, S. J., Thompson, J. L., Zahra, J., Lawlor, D. A., & Jago, R. (2017). Are parents’ motivations to exercise and intention to engage in regular family-based activity associated with both adult and child physical activity? BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2(1), e000137. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2016-000137

Strong, H. A., Ginis, K. A. M., Mack, D. E., & Wilson, P. M. (2006). Examining self-presentational exercise motives and social physique anxiety in men and women. Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research, 11(3–4), 209–225. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9861.2007.00006.x

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Physical activity guidelines for Americans (2nd ed.). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Van Domelen, D. R., Koster, A., Caserotti, P., Brychta, R. J., Chen, K. Y., McClain, J. J., Troiano, R. P., Berrigan, D., & Harris, T. B. (2011). Employment and physical activity in the U.S. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 41(2), 136–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2011.03.019

Vandelanotte, C., Short, C., Rockloff, M., Di Millia, L., Ronan, K., Happell, B., & Duncan, M.J. (2015). How do different occupational factors influence total, occupational, and leisure-time physical activity? Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 12, 200-207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2013-0098

Webb, O. J., & Smith, L. (2011). Promoting stair climbing in public-access settings: An audit of intervention opportunities in England. Preventive Medicine, 53(4–5), 321–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.08.024

Whitehead, B.R. & Blaxton, J.M. (2017). Daily well-being benefits of physical activity in older adults: Does time or type matter?. The Gerentologist, 57(6), 1062-1071. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw250

Yoon, A., Choi, S., Mun, J., Hong, J., Hahn, D., Kang, M., & Lee, S. (2020). Motivational signage increases stair usage on a Hispanic serving institution. Journal of American College Health, 68(3), 236–241. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2018.1539000




DOI: https://doi.org/10.53016/jerp.v5i1.209

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


The Journal of Education and Recreation Patterns © 2023 by The Journal of Education and Recreation Patterns is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0