Gender Differences in Motivation and Barriers for The Practice of Physical Exercise in Adolescence

TLDR

The study surveyed 852 adolescents aged 12–17 using a custom questionnaire and the AMPEF and ABPEF instruments to assess motivations and barriers to exercise. Motivational drivers such as competition, social recognition, and challenge prevailed, while fatigue and laziness were common barriers; boys reported higher motivation and girls reported more barriers, indicating a gendered interaction between motivations and obstacles.

Abstract

A total of 852 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age were evaluated (M = 14.86, SD = 1.67), randomly selected among a population of secondary school and Baccalaureate students. We applied an “ad hoc” questionnaire on sociodemographic data and the Self-Report of Reasons for the Practice of Physical Exercise (AMPEF) and Self-Report of Barriers to the Practice of Physical Exercise (ABPEF) questionnaires. The results obtained show a prevalence of competition, social recognition, and challenge as motivational factors, and fatigue or laziness as barriers to physical exercise among adolescents. With respect to gender, boys show a greater presence of motivations towards doing physical exercise, while girls show more barriers. In conclusion, the motivational factors and barriers interact and support each other for a better predisposition towards physical exercise.