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Motivation in the Athens Classic Marathon: The Role of Sex, Age, and Performance Level in Greek Recreational Marathon Runners

Author

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  • Pantelis T. Nikolaidis

    (Exercise Physiology Laboratory, 18450 Nikaia, Greece
    School of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece)

  • Aïna Chalabaev

    (UFR APS, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38400 Grenoble, France)

  • Thomas Rosemann

    (Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Beat Knechtle

    (Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the motivation of recreational runners and its variation by sex, age, and performance level. Finishers (female: n = 32, age 40.1 ± 9.0 years old, height 162 ± 7 cm, body mass 57.7 ± 7.5 kg, race record 4:34 ± 0:39 h:min; male: n = 134, 44.2 ± 8.6 years, 176 ± 6 cm, 77.0 ± 9.3 kg, 4:02 ± 0:44 h:min) in the Athens Classic Marathon 2017 completed the Motivations of Marathoners Scales (MOMS) 56-item questionnaire. The highest scores in the MOMS were observed in the general health orientation and personal goal achievement categories, and the lowest in the recognition and competition areas. Female participants scored higher in coping, self-esteem, and goal achievement than their male counterparts ( p < 0.05). The <30 age group scored higher than the 35–40 and 40–45 age groups in “competing with other runners” for male participants ( p < 0.05). The average performance group outscored the slowest group in “achieving personal goals” and “competing with other runners” in female participants, whereas an effect of performance on these two themes was shown in male participants as well ( p < 0.05). In summary, we partially confirmed that female and male marathon runners differ for their motivations. In addition, novel findings were the identification of age and performance level as correlates of motivations. The knowledge of these trends would be of great practical value for practitioners to optimize the motivation of their athletes.

Suggested Citation

  • Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & Aïna Chalabaev & Thomas Rosemann & Beat Knechtle, 2019. "Motivation in the Athens Classic Marathon: The Role of Sex, Age, and Performance Level in Greek Recreational Marathon Runners," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-9, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:14:p:2549-:d:249074
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko & Joanna Poczta, 2018. "Running as a Form of Therapy Socio-Psychological Functions of Mass Running Events for Men and Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & José Ramón Alvero-Cruz & Elias Villiger & Thomas Rosemann & Beat Knechtle, 2019. "The Age-Related Performance Decline in Marathon Running: The Paradigm of the Berlin Marathon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-12, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko, 2022. "Recreational Running Motivations among Breast Cancer Survivors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-9, November.
    2. Marek Kazimierczak & Agata Dąbrowska & Katarzyna Adamczewska & Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko, 2019. "The Impact of Modern Ultramarathons on Shaping the Social Identity of Runners. The Case Study of Karkonosze Winter Ultramarathon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Maria Morfoulaki & Glykeria Myrovali & Kornilia-Maria Kotoula & Thomas Karagiorgos & Kostas Alexandris, 2023. "Sport Tourism as Driving Force for Destinations’ Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    4. David Manzano-Sánchez & Lucas Postigo-Pérez & Manuel Gómez-López & Alfonso Valero-Valenzuela, 2020. "Study of the Motivation of Spanish Amateur Runners Based on Training Patterns and Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, November.
    5. Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko & Dariusz Wieliński & Katarzyna Adamczewska, 2020. "Perceived Benefits for Mental and Physical Health and Barriers to Horseback Riding Participation. The Analysis among Professional and Amateur Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-14, May.
    6. Daniel Stark & Stefania Di Gangi & Caio Victor Sousa & Pantelis Nikolaidis & Beat Knechtle, 2020. "Tower Running—Participation, Performance Trends, and Sex Difference," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-9, March.
    7. Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & Beat Knechtle, 2021. "Is It Time for Sports and Health in the Era of Covid-19 Pandemic?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-3, January.
    8. Beat Knechtle & Volker Scheer & Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis & Caio Victor Sousa, 2020. "Participation and Performance Trends in the Oldest 100-km Ultramarathon in the World," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-12, March.
    9. Joanna Poczta & Nuno Almeida & Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko, 2021. "Socio-Psychological Functions of Men and Women Triathlon Participation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-12, November.
    10. Manuel Mosqueira-Ourens & José M. Sánchez-Sáez & Aitor Pérez-Morcillo & Laura Ramos-Petersen & Andrés López-Del-Amo & José L. Tuimil & Adrián Varela-Sanz, 2021. "Effects of a 48-Day Home Quarantine during the Covid-19 Pandemic on the First Outdoor Running Session among Recreational Runners in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
    11. Joanna Poczta & Nuno Almeida & Małgorzata Paczyńska-Jędrycka & Ewa Kruszyńska, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 Incidence on Motivation to Participate in a Triathlon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-11, May.
    12. David Parra-Camacho & Manuel Alonso Dos Santos & María Huertas González-Serrano, 2020. "Amateur Runners’ Commitment: An Analysis of Sociodemographic and Sports Habit Profiles," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-19, February.
    13. Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko & François Gravelle & Agata Dąbrowska & Patxi León-Guereño, 2020. "Do Years of Running Experience Influence the Motivations of Amateur Marathon Athletes?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-16, January.
    14. David Parra-Camacho & María Huertas González-Serrano & Rómulo Jacobo González-García & Ferran Calabuig Moreno, 2019. "Sporting Habits of Urban Runners: Classification According to Their Motivation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-18, December.

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