SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION STUDENTS`MOTIVATION TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTING ACTIVITIES IN GHANA

Abstract

COVID-19 disrupted education and school sports which resumed after the pandemic. This study explores motivational factors influencing college students' participation in sports after the pandemic with reference to gender. The study employed a rigorous descriptive methodology and simple random sampling, with four hundred (400) college student-athletes. Principal Component Factor Analysis (PCFA) identified distinct motivational factors driving student sports engagement. Mean calculations revealed the most influential factors promoting sports re-engagement. The results indicated intrinsic motivation as the foremost factor, followed by the facility and equipment factor. To determine if gender differences exist in relation to motivation to partake in sports, an independent sample t-test was used. Male students showed slightly higher intrinsic motivation and lower facility and equipment motivation than female students. Conversely, female students exhibited higher motivation regarding facilities and equipment, but greater amotivation and external regulation compared to males. It was recommended that promotion and intervention strategies consider barriers and tailor interventions to specific needs to reduce participants' limitations to sports participation.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0758/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>