Motives for practicing and abandoning physical-sports activity in secondary education students according to age and sex
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https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2026.12.2.12837Abstract
Regular physical activity and sports participation among adolescents is influenced by various motivational factors associated with leisure time, health, and competition. However, dropout rates are currently high. The objective of the study was to know the reasons for practicing and abandoning extracurricular physical-sports activity among secondary school students in Cantabria. 629 students (304 girls) between 12 and 16 years old participated (M = 13.73; SD = 1.26). An Ad Hoc questionnaire was covered on reasons for practice (6 items) and physical-sport abandonment (4 items). In the reasons for practicing of active students, children highlight being in shape (p = 0.024); doing sports (p = 0.008); being professionals (p < 0.001); competing (p < 0.001); and improving skills (p = 0.012). In age, there are differences in having good physical appearance (p = 0.005) the older the age. In the non-active, boys highlight the competitive environment (p = 0.002) and girls highlight the lack of time (p = 0.009) and “because my friends play sports” (p = 0.027). In age, older people prefer other activities (p = 0.006). The reasons for sports practice and abandonment in children are competitive. In girls, due to lack of time and influence of friends. Sports abandonment due to competitiveness occurs at younger ages and due to preference for other activities at older ages. These results highlight the need for teachers to promote strategies that encourage participation in extracurricular physical and sporting activities.
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