Open AccessQuality of Life and Exercise Motivation of Normal-Weight and Overweight Adolescents
Author(s) -
Vasko Tišma,
Renata Barić,
Matea Karlović Vragolov
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
društvena istraživanja/društvena istraživanja
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1848-6096
pISSN - 1330-0288
DOI - 10.5559/di.30.3.04
Subject(s) - overweight , psychology , quality of life (healthcare) , body mass index , weight control , developmental psychology , physical activity , quality (philosophy) , obesity , clinical psychology , physical therapy , medicine , pathology , psychotherapist , philosophy , epistemology
The aim of this study was to examine gender and body-mass index differences in quality of life and exercise motives of adolescents. The sample consisted of 744 first-year high school students from the City of Zagreb. Quality of life was measured with an adapted version of the Kidscreen-27, and exercise motivation with the EMI-2. The results suggest that adolescents experience positive quality of life and their exercise motivation derives from intrinsic and extrinsic motives. Higher levels of male adolescents' quality of life, compared to females', predominantly result from a greater sense of physical well-being, more pleasant emotions and moods, more positive school and family environment, and the ability to plan and spend leisure time. Normal-weight adolescents are more satisfied with their physical activity and health than overweight ones. Male adolescents are more driven by enjoyment, challenge, competition, strength, and social motives (belonging, pressure, and recognition), unlike females, who exercise more because of weight control. Normal-weight adolescents are more motivated for exercise by enjoyment than overweight ones, who are more driven by weight control. The implications of these findings were discussed.