Motivational differences between 5K, half marathon and full marathon participants in the UK and India

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This study compares participant motives of 5K, half marathon and full marathon runners registered in a UK and an Indian event.

Method: 1022 participants completed an adapted version of the Motivation of Marathons Scales [Masters et al., 1993. The development of an instrument to measure motivation for marathon running: The motivations of marathoners scales (MOMS). Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 64(2), 134–143], (431 UK participant’s and 591 India participants). CFA and EFA were used to identify an improved factorial solution for the data. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess differences in event type (5K, Half, Full) across five latent motivational constructs: social, physical fitness, self-esteem, achievement in competition, and physical health. Nationality, gender, age, employment status, and educational level were treated as moderating factors, or covariates.

Results: 5K runners scored higher in the self-esteem, physical fitness, and achievement motives. Males scored higher on the achievement motive. The Indian sample scored higher than the UK sample in social motives.

Practical implications: considerations for event organisers are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Motivations
• sport
• physical activity
• exercise

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).