Female college student motivations for participation in intramural sports: within group comparisons

While physical activity can have a variety of health benefits, female college students, on average, participate in less physical activity than do male college students (Han et al., 2008; “Physical activity guidelines for Americans.,” 2008; Small et al., 2013). Intramural sports represent one program offering under the umbrella of Campus Recreation where female college students can participate in a team or individual sport while partaking in physical activity. Given that intramural sports can provide physical benefits to participants, there is growing concern regarding the low participation rates of female college students (Meacci et al., 1982; Smith & Missler, 1994; Young et al., 2003). This study examined the motivations of female college students to participate in intramural sports and if those motivations vary by year in school, ethnicity, level of campus involvement, and citizenship. By conducting a within group comparison, this study sought to fill the gaps in the existing literature that have focused on male participants (Cooper et al., 2012; O’Dell & McCormick, 1997; Rokosz & Fabian, 1978). A total of 80 individuals completed an online questionnaire creating a response rate of 13.05%. The questionnaire included the Leisure Motivation Scale which has four subscales; competence-mastery, social, intellectual, and stimulus avoidance (Beard & Ragheb, 1983). Significant findings noted that when comparing the social factor of the Leisure Motivation Scale across class year, graduate students are less motivated to participate for social factors than are sophomores and seniors. Competence-mastery was the highest motivational factor for all groups followed by social, stimulus avoidance, and intellectual. Additionally, this study collected un-anticipated data related to participation in intramural sports before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data for this group suggests that females participating in intramurals during the COVID-19 pandemic were least motivated by stimulus avoidance factors. Practitioners can use this information to guide how they might design programming during similar health crises.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2021

Author dc:creator

• Smith, Carissa Joan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Shinew, Kimberly

• intramural sports
• within group comparisons

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Carissa Smith

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109394

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/109394