Investigating the effects of the quality of friendship on physical activity commitment among university students

Abstract

With obesity rates increasing each year, it is important to determine the social factor that can influence the level of physical activity especially for university students who are at a crucial transition stage. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the quality of friendship and commitment to physical activity. This association will first be mediated by psychological needs then the type of motivation using Self-determination Theory and the hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Data was collected through an online survey from 180 university students and path analysis was conducted to test the relationship. Four different scales were administered to test this affiliation; Sport Friendship Quality Scale (SFQS; Weiss & Smith, 1999), Basic Needs Satisfaction of Sport Scale (BNSSS; Ng, Lonsdale & Hodge, 2011), Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 2 (BREQ2; Markland & Tobin, 2004) and Commitment to Physical Activity (Gruger, 1977). Results from the study revealed that although there is no direct effect between positive quality of friendship and commitment to physical activity, the need for relatedness and autonomous motivation are important mediators for a significant relationship. This is in line with the motivational sequence and thus, practitioners are recommended to design a sport setting where good quality of friendship can develop along with fostering the need for relatedness. This will lead to autonomous motivation being evident and eventually, commitment to physical activity.