Abstract

TAVERNIER MORGA, María Eugenia; TURNBULL PLAZA, Bernardo  and  GUILLEN, Félix. What Motivates You to Exercise? Phenomenology of long-term physical activity practice. Act.Psi [online]. 2021, vol.35, n.131, pp.88-104. ISSN 2215-3535.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/ap.v35i131.40827.

Objective. To know the experience of long-term active people to understand their relationship with physical practice in three stages: beginning of active life, current motivation, and facing barriers. Method. A phenomenological analysis was done on in-depth interviews. N = 11 adults have been active at a sufficient level for, at least, the last 10 years. Results. Four categories were found: the autonomous experience, the decision making, the preference for an active life acquired since childhood, and the habit through which they regulate their emotions. As a conclusion, the characteristics of the experience of active people with physical activity confirmed aspects about self-determined motivation. Useful elements are suggested in the intervention aimed at long-term activation.

Keywords : Physical activity; motivation; active lifestyle; phenomenology; autonomy.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )