An Exploratory Study of Collegiate Track and Field Athletes’ Participation Motivations and Health Related Behaviors

Abstract

Using ‘self-determination-theory’ as a theoretical framework, this study examined: features of the collegiate track and field athletes’ (CT&FAs’) participation-motivations; their current healthrelated behaviors; and their participation-motivations associate to the dependent variables. Participants were 283 CT&FAs (159 males, 124 females). Data correction was employed Adapt Collegiate Track and Field Athletes’ Participation Motivations and Healthy Related Behaviors Questionnaire (ACTFAPMHRBQ); containing 54 items (eight invested general information, 19 examined motivation-factors (MFs) and 27 examined health-related behaviors). Results showed: the top four MFs are: ‘to improve-reputation’, ‘high technical-content and unique-value’; ‘for professional’; and ‘for fun & not boredom’. The MANOVA revealed: ‘Disciplines’ and ‘Original Motivations’ did not reach significant different but ‘Gender’, ‘Supports’, ‘Years in college’ and ‘Athlete-Grade’ did. The current ‘health-related behaviors’ status of these participants was identified. Additionally, when using a four points scale of “Excellent, Very-good, Good, and Notgood”, their overall status was on the position between excellent and very-good.