Examining exercise motives between gender, age and activity: A first-order scale analysis and measurement invariance

Abstract

Conceptualizing an exercise program according to exercisers motives seems to be crucial. Thus, adequate and validated scale assessing motives for physical activity is necessary. This study aimed to translate and validate the Exercise Motives Inventory-2 (EMI-2), a scale assessing fourteen motives for regular physical activity in Portuguese exercisers. In addition, comparison of motives between groups were made according to gender, age, and fitness activity. For scale validation, data from two independent samples were collected: calibration (n = 820; female = 499) and validation (n = 733; female = 451) participants. For scale reliability and mean difference analysis, data from a new sample was collected (n = 515; female = 342). Results showed that data did not fit the original 51-item model. After reviewing item loadings, two items were eliminated, since they presented factor loadings below acceptable. Hence, the revised model encompassing 49-item had an adequate fit. Convergent and discriminant validity was achieved in the revised model, displaying acceptable construct validity. In addition, invariance criteria were respected between female and male Portuguese exercisers. Regarding mean comparison analysis, differences were found between gender, and across age and fitness activities. Nevertheless, in overall the majority of exercisers indicated "general health" and "physiological" motives as the most valued. The EMI-2 is a reliable scale assessing motives in Portuguese exercisers. This study suggests that exercise programs should be conceptualized considering motives, but also gender, age, and fitness activity. Keywords Exercise. Motives. Confirmatory analysis. Measurement invariance. Mean differences Physical activity and motives "What drives you to exercise?" is possibly one of the most frequently asked questions by exercise professionals and peers when someone engages in physical activity for the first time. Research on understanding the motives for individuals to choose to exercise could be of great practical value (Markland and Hardy 1993) and therefore conceptualizing an exercise program according to exercisers motives seems to be essential. Concerning exercising, goals of pleasure,

Examining achievement goals in exercisers: adaptation and validation of the goal orientations in exercise measure (GOEM)

“…For this reason, Kilpatrick et al (2003) argue individuals can experience ego-orientation, having a significant impact on exercise participation. These results are supported by Rodrigues et al (2019) in a study conducted with three independent samples of exercisers, in which participants are able to define success and/or engage in physical activity based on normative comparisons.…”

“…For example, multigroup analysis between different age groups was not possible because of the heterogeneity of age (range 18-69). Although this study was grounded on robust theoretical frameworks, personalcontextual characteristics should be measured in future research when conducting multigroup analysis as proposed by several authors (Ersöz et al 2017;Rodrigues et al 2019).…”

“…According to Petherick e Markland (2008), the main issue on the application of AGT in the exercise context has been the defining process of achievement, which competition and the demonstration of competence is not directly expressed in this domain. However, literature has shown that exercisers display different reasons for their involvement with exercise practice, which can both reflect the aspects associated with personal improvement, as well as competitive aspects such as social recognition (e.g., Markland and Ingledew 1997;Rodrigues et al 2019). For this reason, Kilpatrick et al (2003) argue individuals can experience ego-orientation, having a significant impact on exercise participation.…”

What Motivates Patients with COPD to Be Physically Active? A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Nevertheless, the internal consistency results of the EMI-2 obtained in the present study were good and above the minimum recommended [ 54 ]. Additionally, sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics and culture were not addressed in this study, although they may influence exercise motivation [ 19 , 22 , 23 , 55 ]. Furthermore, we did not collect information on the number of PR sessions completed in the “Previous PR” group and on the specific types of PA patients were doing during data collection (e.g., sports, exercise and other PA), although it may be important to have a deeper understanding of the relationships between motives and PA [ 9 ].…”

Test–Retest Reliability of a Questionnaire on Motives for Physical Activity among Adolescents

“…Motives for PA tend to differ by gender, age and geographic region [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 18 , 19 ]. Boys were reported as having higher rates of achievement motivation than girls, but lower rates of social and health motives than girls [ 7 ]; social and health motives were reported more frequently in older adolescents than in younger, while achievement motives were reported more frequently in older adolescent boys and in younger adolescent girls [ 10 ].…”