MOTIVOS QUE FOMENTAN EL EJERCICIO FÍSICO EN EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR. UN ANÁLISIS COMPARATIVO POR SEXO

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the reasons of university students practice physical exercise, compare them according to sex, and identify the association between the reasons analyzed. A total of 364 university students (122 men and 242 women) with a mean age of 21.8 years (SD= 2.6) participated in this non-experimental, transactional, and descriptive study. The Goal Content for Exercise Questionnaire was used for data collection, and the Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman's Correlation Coefficient were used for data analysis. The main results show significant sex differences in social affiliation, social recognition, and skill development, with men having higher mean scores. In addition, significant positive correlations were found between all the factors analyzed, except for the correlation between health improvement and social recognition. These findings provide insight into the objectives of students with respect to the practice of physical exercise, providing key information to generate programs and offers of access to sport and physical activity in line with the interests of students at the university level. © 2025 Didactic Asociation Andalucia. All rights reserved.