Does Exercising for a While Changes the Motivation of Exercise Participation?

Total 300 individuals who are above eighteen years old, of which 176 (age X=23.53 Ss=4.47) are females and 124 (age X=24.16 Ss=5.21) are males, participated in the study conducted to determine the difference between the exercise motivations of adult females and males who has newly started to exercise and have been exercising for more than three years. The Recreational Exercise Motivation Measurement (REMM) was used in the research. The scale was applied before the session by the researcher on the females and males who just participated in the study and had been exercising for three years at the Fitness centers. The data obtained were applied with descriptive statistics, MANOVA and one-way ANOVA.   As a result of MANOVA performed to compare genders and durations of participation, it was observed that there was a difference based on exercise participants' gender {F(5.292)=4.615; p=.000} and durations of participation {F(5.292)=2.812; p=.017}.  It was determined in the one-way variance analysis that there was a difference between females and males in favor of males in the subscale of challenge {F(1.296)=5.910; p=.016} and the subscale of skill development {F(1.296)=14.016; p=.000}. When compared in terms of duration of participation, it could be seen that there was a difference in favor of those who had been exercising for three years and more in the sub dimensions health {F(1.296)=6.063; p=.014}, challenge {F(1.296)=11.194; p=.001}, body and outer appearance {F(1.296)=7.560; p=.006}, and skill development {F(1.296)=5.238; p=.023}. To be exercising (for three years and more) creates a discrepancy in the participation motives of females and males. It is observed that there are differences based on body and outer appearance, challenge, health, and skill development. It can also be seen that there is a difference in the participation motive between females and males based on gender. For the sub dimensions challenge and skill development, this difference seems to be in favor of males.