Motivação para a Prática de Exercício Físico na cidade da Praia, Cabo Verde: Relação entre as Orientações Motivacionais e a Satisfação das Necessidades Psicológicas Básicas.

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to understand the motivational factors that influence the practice of physical exercise among residents of the City of Praia, identifying the reasons for adherence, maintenance and the barriers that make it difficult to continue practicing. It was also intended to compare the motivational regulations and basic psychological needs of physical exercise practitioners depending on gender and level of physical activity. 291 participants, practitioners and non-practitioners of physical exercise in the city of Praia, participated in this study, of which 149 were female and 142 were male, aged between 16 and 76 years old with an average of 37.44 years old. To collect data, the motivational regulation questionnaire (BREQ-2) was used to assess the motivational regulations of practitioners, and the NPBES to assess basic psychological needs. And a third questionnaire to identify the reasons that lead practitioners to join and maintain the practice of exercise and identify the barriers/challenges that make it difficult to continue the activities performed. The results obtained revealed that the main reasons for joining the practice are related to improving general health, increasing strength and physical resistance and improving appearance. The main reasons for maintaining the practice are related to improving general health and well-being and achieving personal goals related to physical fitness. Lack of time, injuries and physical pain and lack of motivation are the main barriers/challenges that make it difficult to practice physical exercise. Regarding motivational regulations, they are mostly intrinsic and identified with higher values in male individuals, but without important differences. Regarding basic psychological needs, we provide satisfaction of all three needs of practitioners where the results obtained are superior in male individuals.