THE ROLE OF MOTIVATION AND LIFE SATISFACTION ON CHILEAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SEDENTARY BEHAVIOR

Abstract

ABSTRACT Motivation is a fundamental element for the practice of physical activity and the feeling of satisfaction with life. However, little is known about the role of such psychological variables in the lifestyle of Chilean university students. This study aimed to analyse the relationship between life satisfaction and the regulations of motivation and to compare such variables by physical activity level and sedentary behaviour of university students. The sample comprised 95 Chilean university students (63.2% female), with a mean age of 20.92 ± 1.98 years. The instruments were the IPAQ, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire. Descriptive measures, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and Student’s t-tests were used to analyse the data. The results revealed positive and significant correlations between life satisfaction and intrinsic (r = 0,44), integrated (r = 0,38), and identified (r = 0,41) regulation. Students with high levels of physical activity scored higher for intrinsic, integrated, and identified regulation. Those who reported low sedentary behaviour showed higher identified regulation. Therefore, it is suggested that students’ motivational regulation may differ on some dimensions as those with higher levels of physical activity show more adaptive motivational regulation. Identified regulation also seems to play an important role in decreasing sedentary behaviour.

Keywords

• Motivation
• Exercise
• Personal satisfaction
• Sedentary behaviour
• University students