The Motivational Function of Goals in Physical Activity: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

Zitong Wang¹Dominika Maria Wilczyńska²Ewelina Cichoń³Katarzyna Kreft^2*Junyu Lu¹Małgorzata Lipowska^4,5Ariadna Beata Lada-Masko⁵Bartosz M. Radtke⁶Urszula Sajewicz-Radtke⁶Bernadetta Izydorczyk⁷Anna Gmiąt¹Paola Vago⁸Taofeng Liu⁹Mai Helmy¹⁰Violeta Enea¹¹Negar Pourvakhshoori¹²Aidos Bolatov¹³Mariusz Lipowski²

• ¹Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Pomeranian, Poland
• ²University WSB Merito Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Pomeranian, Poland
• ³University of Lower Silesia, Wrocław, Silesian, Poland
• ⁴University College of Professional Education in Wroclaw Poland, Wroclaw, Poland
• ⁵University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland
• ⁶Laboratory of Psychological and Educational Tests, Gdansk, Poland
• ⁷Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Lesser Poland, Poland
• ⁸Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
• ⁹Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
• ¹⁰Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
• ¹¹Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iași, Romania
• ¹²University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Tehran, Iran
• ¹³Human Research & Development LLP, Astana University, Astana, Kazakhstan

The aim of the study was to show the differences in the dominant motivational function of physical activity (PA) between women and men representing Poland (PL), China (CN), Iran (IR), Kazakhstan (KZ), Egypt (EG), Romania (RO), and Italy (IT). Methods: A total of 6195 participants (females = 3376 and males = 2819) aged 18-88 years (M = 28.5, SD = 12.74), residing in the seven countries were analyzed for the purpose of this study. 12 goal types distinguished by The Inventory of Physical Activity Objectives (IPAO) tool used in the study. Results: The analysis results indicated the significant main effects of gender and country. The three-way interaction between gender, type of goal, and country was significant. Indicated that the largest differences in the rating of the goals’ importance between males and females occurred in evaluating objective 4 (fit, shapely body) in RO. Males in RO assessed this goal significantly lower than females. Among females, one of the largest differences occurred in the evaluation of the importance of objective 7 (Boosting confidence, gaining appreciation from others) between PL and EG as well as PL and IR. Conclusions: Understanding the motives behind PA and gender differences is crucial for developing effective health interventions and future cross-cultural research. The results of the study can be used in marketing by tailoring the content of the message to the audience. In schools, understanding the motives for physical activity will allow the curriculum to be adapted and thus increase student engagement in exercise. Understanding the profile of the exercise participant by the instructor will allow their needs to be effectively met and will positively correlate with persistence in activity.