Motivation in University Students Participating in Regular Physical Activity: Relationship with Self-Compassion and Psychological Resilience

Regular physical activity is known to have many health benefits including cardiovascular health, weight control, improved metabolism, mental health, immune system strengthening and social bonding. Understanding how academic motivation is linked to self-compassion and psychological resilience in university students who engage in regular physical activity may indicate an effective way to increase students' motivation. Therefore, the aim of the study was to obtain the results of the relationship between academic motivation levels and self-compassion and psychological resilience levels of university students who regularly participate in physical activity. In this cross-sectional study, the relationship between the three variables was evaluated. In this context, general and relational survey models were utilized. Measurements of these three constructs were completed with 812 students (521 males, 291 females) studying at Atatürk University who regularly participated in various physical activities (swimming, cycling, fitness or gym exercises, weight lifting, astroturf, hiking, etc.) for at least 150 minutes per week. Academic Motivation, Self-Compassion and Psychological Resilience scales were used in the study. Correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Significant relationships were found between academic motivation and psychological resilience and self-compassion. Self-compassion and psychological resilience affected intrinsic motivation at the level of .04, extrinsic motivation at the level of .07 and amotivation at the level of .06. In this context, both self-compassion and psychological resilience were identified as significant predictors for all sub-dimension types of academic motivation. In conclusion, this study found that higher levels of motivation were associated with greater feelings of self-compassion and psychological resilience.Keywords: Academic Motivation, Physical Activity, Psychological Resilience, Self-Compassion.