Sport participation: differences in motivation and actual participation due to gender typing.

Abstract

Physical and psychological health have both been shown to benefit from regular participation in physical activities. Health reasons are, however, not the only motives individuals have for taking part in sports. Motives related to appearance, competition and excitement, fun and enhanced competence, are a few other reasons. It also has been suggested that the motives for participation influence sport participation time and adherence. The present study investigated the possible effects of gender typing, as measured by the Bern Sex Role Inventory (BSRI), on motives given explicitly for sport participation, and on actual participation in physical exercise. The relationship between motives for participation and the time spent participating in sports was also studied. Several differences between groups of individuals were found regarding motives for participating, actual participation and the relationship between the motives given and the actual participating time. Some of these differences might possibly be explained by the social construction of male-female relations that work to maintain, strengthen and naturalize gender differences.