Internal Structure of Participation Motivation Questionnaire Completed by Undergraduates

The current study was conducted to examine the internal structure of the 1983 Participation Motivation Questionnaire of Gill, Gross, and Huddleston, a measure of motives for participating in sport and physical activity, when used among undergraduates. Principal component analysis of responses from students yielded a six-factor solution. The subscales were team orientation, achievement/status, fitness, friendship, skill development, and fun/excitement/challenge. The internal consistency for the subscales was generally adequate (coefficients alpha ranged from .67 to .93). Descriptive statistics indicated that the students' most important motives for participating in physical activity were to (a) maintain fitness, (b) experience fun, excitement, and challenge, and (c) acquire and improve skills. The least important motives for participating in physical activity were to (a) maintain and develop friendship, (b) obtain achievement and status, and (c) experience teamwork, team spirit, and being on a team. Avenues of research are discussed.