Understanding the Motivations and Challenges Faced by Married People Participating in Sports Program: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract This study investigated the lived experiences among married people in Barangay Sto Niño, Tanjay City year 2024. A phenomenological approach was employed to describe the phenomenon and through purposive sampling, the participants were selected based on the criteria set by the researchers. Moreover, a self-made interview was utilized coupled with open-ended questions. In terms of the richness and saturation of the data, the researchers took eight sessions with the residents of the participants for their convenience. With the use of thematic analysis, the findings revealed five major themes namely, a) Promoting physical fitness, b) Psychological advantage, c) Connectivity amidst diversity d) Drawbacks in the game, and e) Embracing sportsmanship. Thus, the findings recommend that Local Government Units continue to provide recreational activities to help people foster and promote healthy lifestyles especially adult and married people. Keywords: Qualitative research; phenomenology; lived experiences of married people participating in sports programs; motivations of married people in sports