Three Component Model of Meaningfulness of Life of Male and Female University Students regarding their Sport Activity

• Main Authors: Pavel Smela, Petra Pacesova, Stanislav Kracek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PPHU Projack 2019-09-01
• Series: Physical Activity Review
• Subjects: sources of meaning in life; athletes and non-athletes; flow; well-being
• Online Access: http://www.physactiv.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2019_21.pdf

The aim of the study is to expand knowledge in meaningfulness of life of athlete and non-athlete college students at universities in Bratislava and identify differences in its dimensions: affective, motivation and cognitive. The research sample comprised of 198 undergraduates (males: n=90, 20.68±1.56 years of age; female: n=108, 20.74±1.16 years of age). The respondents were divided into 2 groups according to their sports activities: college students who do not take active part in any sports activities (non-athlete respondents), and college students who are engaged regularly (at least twice a week) in sport activities. The questionnaire The Scale of Life Meaningfulness was used as a research tool. The results revealed significant differences in total score of meaningfulness of life by male (U=383.0, p=0.001, r=0.52) and also female (U=687.5, p=0.001, r=0.45). According to three-component model we have found out the significant differences between athlete and non-athlete college students in affective dimension (male: p=0.025, female: p=0.007) and motivation dimension (male: p=0.001, female: p=0.001). There were no significant differences in cognitive dimension (male: p=0.062, female: p=0.127). According to our results which testified the fact that sport activity is one of the determinants for increased meaningfulness of life of undergraduates.