engleski

Motivation for Psysical Activity and Aspects of Health and satisfaction

Systematic exercise has a positive effect on all aspects of health and the overall functioning of a soldier, including enhanceing learning and memory via direct impact on hippocampus changes. There are several different motives that inspire a person for physical activity. The aim of this paper is to examine the motivational structure for physical exercise and its associations with some aspects of satisfaction of psychological and physical health in different categories of members of the army. The survey was conducted anonymously at the Croatian Military Academy on 295 participants (61 female, 221 male) in five groups (junior and senior cadets, 1st (basic) level and two programs of 3rd level of officer education). The questionnaire includes questions about motivation for physical exercise (adapted MPAM-R Questionnaire), the scale of life and work satisfaction and questions about the symptoms of physical and mental health and about type and frequency of physical activity and results on military fitness tests were collected, also. We found statistically significant differences of factor scores of the MPAM-R questionnaire (6 factors) and the satisfaction scale (4 factors) between groups of participants. Dominant motives for exercise of cadets and officer candidates on basic officer course are appearance and excitement. Younger cadets are doing exercise primarily for appearance, while older cadets exercise for their own health. There is no gender difference. Statistically significant correlation between some factors of satisfaction, motivation for physical exercise and health difficulties was found.

motivational structure, physical exercise in the army, body mass index, stress resistance, satisfaction

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