The Most Influencing Factors of Physical Activity Participation - May 2011

The 3 Most Influencing Factors of Physical Activity Participation are :

1. Health Factor
2. Social Recognition
3. Enjoyment

The findings after testing all items in the 5 dimensions or variables, we can see that there are no significance differences between influence factor that influence Universiti Kuala Lumpur students to be involved in physical activity. According to data collects showed, with mean score M=3.33 for health factor, M=3.1850 for social recognition factor and in additional M=3.17 for enjoyment factor showed the factor of influence the participation among Universiti Kuala Lumpur respondents in physical activity. Another 2 variables were below than M=3.00 including competition and environment factors.

The result of this test indicates that all dimension or variables shows the same result and was the answer to the first research question. According to Biddle (1998), Iso-Ahola (1980) and Lim (2002), (2004) showed many students also participate in physical activities because of health and similar to the perceived positive health and fitness benefits as well as social and psychological benefits. In additional previous qualitative study also shows has identified a series of meanings, perceptions and beliefs which are able to extend our theoretical understanding of physical activity participation for this age and gender group and identify potentially modifiable determinants for attention in health interventions (Coleman, 2008).

The research also found that social recognition factor also contributes to the influence of the participation of physical activity among Universiti Kuala Lumpur students similar to an interviewed has been done on having learn new skills, increased self-esteem, improved fitness and developed new social networks as motivation to be physically active, (Flintoff, 2005)  and other study showed knowledge of peer group will enable parents, teachers and trainers to guide action to either strengthen the perceived climate or redirect it and thus increase self determination motivation and positive sensation felt during participate in physical activity (Moreno, 2008). This research study has found that all factors influence University Kuala Lumpur students to be involved in physical activity involvement are also similar to the theoretical underpinning as Maslow’s hierarchy 1954 that three stages including safety, love / belonging and esteem.

Other factor is enjoyment which also similar to previous study that enjoyment, interest, fun, and persistence also called intrinsic motivation and it may seem like a program factor but sense of enjoyment is an individual belief (Ryan 2009). In additional previous study also found interest, enjoyment, fun, and persistence is more often as predictors of participation and non-participation than perceived health benefits (Young, 2005).