Abstract
Sports and recreational activity is an important element of an effective use of their free time by children and school youth. In contrast to competitive sports, which focus on achieving maximum sports results through intense competition, sports and recreational activity should be assessed mainly in terms of its health benefits. Sports and recreational behaviour can be analysed in the context of psychophysical development, personality development, regeneration of vital forces, contact with nature, active rest and relaxation. The literature on the subject distinguishes various motives for undertaking sports and recreational activity, the most important of which include: pleasure, relaxation, health, aesthetic values, physical fitness and social aspects. This work aims to examine what motives guide Austrian school youth when undertaking sports and recreational activity, with particular emphasis on the health motive. The analysis also includes the differences related to gender and environmental conditions. The study included 391 students of general secondary schools in Austria, aged 18. The study group consisted of 96 boys and 103 girls from a large city and 94 boys and 98 girls from a small town. The Sports Activity Motives Questionnaire was used for the analysis. The study results emphasize the significant role played by the health motive in undertaking sports and recreational activities, especially among girls. The social aspect and relaxation also turned out to be important motives for both sexes. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in motives such as physical fitness and risk, which were more important for boys, while aesthetics was much more important for girls. The study did not find any statistically significant differences in the motives for undertaking sports and recreational activities between young people from large and small towns.
Published Version
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