Modeling the Association Between Virtual Reality-Based Sports Facility Safety Analysis and Motivational Climate, Behavioral Outcomes, and Continuance Intention to Use in Sport Science Higher Education

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the associations among Physical Activity and Sport Sciences students’ self-reported motivational climate, perceived usefulness, behavioral intention, and continuance intention to use Virtual Reality (VR), as assessed immediately after a single common VR session on sports facility safety analysis. It also sought to propose and validate a theoretical model predicting students’ self-reported continued intention to use VR within a single-group design. This session was conducted with 445 undergraduate students who participated in an immersive VR experience focused on evaluating the safety of sports facilities. Immediately after the activity, participants completed questionnaires assessing usability, continuance intention to use, behavioral intention, and mastery- and performance-oriented motivational climates. Results revealed high levels of perceived usefulness, behavioral intention, and intention to use VR. The mastery-oriented motivational climate scored significantly higher than the performance-oriented climate. Structural equation modeling showed that perceived usefulness and a mastery-oriented climate were positively associated with behavioral intention, while a performance-oriented climate showed a negative association. Behavioral intention was the strongest predictor of future self-reported intention to use VR. Gender differences were also observed, associated with perceptions of mastery climate and perceived usefulness. Overall, the findings support VR as a promising educational tool for sports facility safety training and innovative learning in higher education.