Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population

1. Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population Rob Hardin, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Gi-Yong Koo, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Amber McMillin, M.S., Admiral Farragut Academy Carolyn Cooper, M.S., Providence College Cherilyn Hultquist, Ph.D., Kennesaw State University

2. Exercise Motivations • Previous Samples • Older adults • Cancer survivors • Adolescents • Participants in rehabilitation programs • College-aged females • College students • Fitness centers • No Study Looking Specifically at College Athletes Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

3. Study Significance • Research has been conducted as to why people exercise or participate in physical activity. • There has been little research as to why elite female collegiate athletes train. • The common belief is they are doing it because they have to do it but there is no empirical evidence to support this. • A need to compare student-athletes with other college females Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

4. Study Significance • Training to build muscle mass is now a required element for participation in most NCAA Division I sport programs (Duff, Hong, & Royce 1999). • Research shows that 5 million to 10 million American women and girls have clinical eating disorders and millions more are afflicted with other forms of psychologically disordered eating, body image is obviously an important facet of women’s lives that should be addressed (Schooler, 2008). • For female athletes being members of a team, or working toward a common goal, was found to be a major source of enjoyment in elite athletes (Scalan, Stein, & Ravizza 1989). • Youth athletes find enjoyment in exercising as found in many studies (Gill, Gross, & Huddleson 1983; Gould, Felz, & Weiss 1985; Klint & Weiss 1987). Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

5. Definition of Terms • Student-Athlete: NCAA Division I female athlete who competes in a varsity sport as offered by her institution of education. • Female Student Population: Females attending the selected university • Training Session/Workout: A mandatory session of exercise characterized either by weighted resistance training or aerobic interval conditioning. • Workout Session: A workout or exercise session by a member of the student population • Motive/Factor: The reason that the respondent chooses to workout. Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

6. Proposed Motives Skill Development Competition Body Image Motives to Participate in Workouts Enjoyment Psychological Benefits Physiological Benefits External Pressure Social Interaction Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

7. Instrument Design • Questionnaire • 7-point Likert-type scale to measure motivations • Markland & Hardy’s Exercise Motivation Inventory (1993) • Demographics Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

8. Data Collection • Division I university in the southeast • Completed the questionnaire after a mandatory strength or conditioning workout (132 valid responses) • Completed the questionnaire either before or after exercising/working out at a campus recreation facility (242 valid responses) Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

9. Results

10. Factor Analysis Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

11. Mean Scores Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

12. Motives and Satisfaction • Backward stepwise multiple regression was employed to examine the relationships between seven participant motives and satisfaction for non-student-athletes and student-athletes. • The results indicated eustress (β = .403; p < .001) and body image (β = .127; p = .032) were significant predictors of satisfaction (Adj. r2 = .194) for the student population. • The results for student-athletes revealed eustress (β = .441; p < .001) was only significant predictor of satisfaction (Adj. r2 = .188). Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

13. Conclusions

14. Student-Athletes • Competition drives student-athletes. • Being physically fit and increasing their physical attributes are necessary for success in competition. • Use these motivations to push the student-athletes. • The athletes want to succeed and correlating physical training to success on the athletic field would increase motivation. Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

15. Student-Athletes • Social reasons higher than the general student population. • Coaches should emphasize the team building that can occur during training sessions. • This is also a time when student-athletes can bond with their teammates and members of other teams. Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

16. Student-Athletes • Eustress and stress release were also factors so the student-athletes do appreciate the psychological benefits that exercise brings. • External Pressure was not a factor. Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

17. Student-Athletes • Student-athletes want to exercise and train for their sports. • They are not simply doing because their coach is making them or because they want to improve themselves physically. • Coaches should take advantage of this as well and promote the general benefits of training and exercising for lifelong fitness and mental health. Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

18. Student-Population • The psychological benefits of exercising are most important to students. • The notion of making one feel good about themselves in regards to eustress, and the stress release benefits of exercising should be highlighted in marketing campaigns. • It seems the general student population wants to go exercise primarily for the psychological benefits and wants little or no interaction with anyone else. Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009

19. Satisfaction • Eustress was the factor that led to high levels of satisfaction. • Body Image for the student population. Physical Training Motivations: Female College Athletes and Female Student Population College Sport Research Institute – April 17, 2009