Editorial: Motivations for physical activity—Volume III

The practice of regular physical activity is widely recognized as one of the main pillars of health throughout the life cycle. Despite the robust evidence supporting its benefits (e.g., in the prevention of chronic diseases, in the improvement of mental health, in the promotion of well-being and longevity) a significant part of the population still does not comply with the minimum recommendations for physical activity. This paradox between knowledge and action has motivated increasing attention from the international scientific community, seeking to understand the psychological and behavioural mechanisms that influence, facilitate or inhibit the regular practice of physical activity and sports participation.It was in this context that this Research Topic was born, jointly hosted by the journals Frontiers in Psychology and Frontiers in Sport and Active Living, with the aim of aggregating scientific contributions that explore the psychological and behavioural dimensions of the practice of physical activity and involvement in sport, at different ages, cultures, contexts and modalities. The set of twenty articles gathered in this special issue constitutes a valuable repository of empirical data, theoretical reflections and proposals for concrete intervention applicability. This editorial thus aims to present a critical synthesis of the main emerging themes, articulate individual contributions in an integrated narrative and highlight the implications for research, practice and public policy formulation. The methodological and geographical diversity of the studies presented allows us to observe more clearly the complexity of this phenomenon and the way in which different variables interact, reinforce or limit the active involvement of people throughout the various stages of life. Contributions range from psychometric analyses to qualitative investigations, from clinical trials to systematic reviews, offering a comprehensive and interdisciplinary panorama.Motivation continues to be one of the most studied axes in the field of physical activity, with approaches ranging from classical theories (e.g. self-determination, planned behaviour) to more recent perspectives, focused on hope, grit or athletic identity.Kovács analyses motivational profiles of more than a thousand young Hungarian athletes, highlighting the complexity of the interactions between sports orientation, persistence and personality traits. The study by Tokarska and Rogowska, used a person-centred approach to identify distinct motivational profiles in cyclists and runners. The authors revealed that different combinations of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, as well as levels of selfefficacy, configure typologies that directly impact the behaviour of athletes. This differentiated vision allows for the design of intervention strategies that are more adjusted to the reality of each practitioner. The contribution of Ronca et al. broadens this reflection suggesting that personality traits (such as extraversion or emotional stability) can influence not only the preference for certain intensities of physical exercise, but also the magnitude of stress reduction obtained after a training program. This work highlights the importance of individualizing activity proposals, considering psychological predispositions. In the sphere of self-regulation, Blythe et al. demonstrate that hope agency predicts the ability to achieve exercise goals in college students. Participants with higher levels of hope showed greater consistency and success in achieving the set physical goals, pointing to the relevance of positive, future-oriented motivational states. Finally, Zhou et al. present a meta-analysis that reveals a moderate and bidirectional association between exercise motivation and cardiorespiratory fitness in students, consolidating the evidence of the importance of motivation for physical development and vice versa.The role of self-efficacy as a behavioural determinant is evidenced in several studies in this collection. The meta-analysis by Xie et al. demonstrates a consistent association between self-efficacy and physical activity in older adults, with a mutually reinforcing relationship. This virtuous cycle is especially relevant for the design of interventions aimed at active aging. The relevance of this construct also extends to other age groups, as evidenced by Kessler et al., who studied middle-aged and older adults with musculoskeletal pain. The work revealed that hope (understood as an emotional component related to self-efficacy) significantly predicts the levels of physical activity reported, even in the face of physical limitations. This finding reinforces the idea that positive psychological aspects can mitigate physical barriers and motivate active behaviour. On the other hand, Na et al. contributed to the development and preliminary validation of a scale of parenting practices promoting physical activity for Chinese children between 3 and 6 years old. The application of this instrument revealed the significant influence of parenting styles on children's self-efficacy beliefs regarding movement and structured play practice, highlighting the importance of facilitating contexts from early childhood. Still in the field of the relationship between exercise and mental health, Zhang et al. demonstrated that regular physical activity in Chinese university students significantly improves emotional management, and this effect is mediated by two factors: life satisfaction and perceived health. These results point to psychological mediation mechanisms with potential for interventions in academic environments. Still in the field of the relationship between exercise and mental health, the study by Ahsan et al. analysed the effects of physical activity on mental toughness and quality of life in a gender-differentiated sample of young adults. The authors identified differences between men and women in physical activity levels, as well as in several domains of mental strength and quality of life. These results reinforce the importance of considering gender as a moderating variable, and point to the role of physical activity as a transversal promoter of psychological skills and global well-beingThe influence of the social environment and interpersonal interactions is another theme that is strongly transversal to the articles included in this Research Topic. In fact, human behaviour in the field of physical activity is profoundly influenced by the social environment. The quality of interpersonal relationships, leadership styles and the motivational climate play a decisive role in the way people start, maintain or abandon active practices. In performance sports, Liu et al. show that coaches' leadership behaviour has direct and indirect positive effects (via coach-athlete relationship and psychological fatigue) on athletes' performance. This study reinforces the need for training in relational skills for training professionals. On the practitioners' side, Wineinger et al. explored effects of ego-centred motivational climates on master swimmers in the United States. The results indicate that excessively competitive environments, which promote social comparisons to the detriment of personal development, tend to compromise the perception of competence and long-term commitment. These data are particularly relevant in the context of senior sport, where well-being and active longevity should be priorities. Kim et al. show, in a study applied to the practice of Pilates, that subjective norms and perceived social value have greater weight than functional or emotional value in the intention to engage in practice. This evidence emphasizes the importance of perceived support and social influence in decision-making.The practice of physical activity is not dissociated from cultural contexts and dominant value systems. They are also anchored in cultural values, social habits, and symbolic forms of belonging, expression, and consumption. Chen et al. use structural equation modelling to analyse the relationship between attitudes toward exercise and sports consumption patterns in Chinese urban residents. The results reveal that positive attitudes directly influence the practice, which, in turn, is associated with greater sports consumption; suggesting a circular model of behavioural and economic reinforcement. The article by Wambsganz et al. also contributes to this field, identifying intrapersonal factors (e.g. self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, personality traits) that distinguish regular practitioners from inactive practitioners, in a sample of the German population. The study offers valuable clues for designing more effective behavioural campaigns.The incorporation of technology in the contexts of sports practice and physical activity has been profoundly transforming the way people engage with exercise. In addition to monitoring and personalization, the elements of immersion and emotional involvement have taken on an increasingly relevant role. For instance, the potential of technology as an enabler of active lifestyles is explored. In a pilot study Touloudi et al. compared a traditional exercise program with a virtual reality-based program in adults with obesity. The virtual reality intervention demonstrated greater effectiveness in improving body composition, activity levels, and exercise pleasure; key factors for sustained adherence. Emotionally and sensorily, Suwabe (ii) pleasure and emotional involvement should be considered not as a consequence, but as a condition that promotes adherence; (iii) the design of public policies must take an ecological perspective, articulating health, urbanism, education and culture; (iv) research should evolve towards longitudinally sustained approaches, with continuous measurement of effects and adaptation to social transformations (e.g. digitalisation, demographic aging, inequalities of access).This collection of twenty articles contributes significantly to the advancement of knowledge about the psychological and behavioural determinants of physical activity and sport. The studies presented here challenge traditional models, introduce innovative variables, validate approaches in different cultures and offer concrete clues for intervention. As editors, we express our sincere thanks to all the authors, reviewers, and contributors who made this publication possible. We believe that this Research Topic will not only be a reference for the scientific community, but also a catalyst for new ideas, programs and policies that are more effective in promoting active and healthy lifestyles.