SPORTS MOTIVATION OF STUDENTS OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICAL
SCIENCES IN KRAGUJEVAC, DEPENDING ON THE STUDY PROGRAM
Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine the concept of sports motivation, derived on the principles of selfdetermination, in the population of students, i.e. to assess differences in sports motivation between students of
pharmacy and physiotherapy. The study included 54 students of the Faculty of medical sciences in Kragujevac.
Sports motivation was evaluated using the SMS-28 scale of sports motivation which includes 28 items assessed
by the respondents on a 7-point Likert-type scale. Four items each measure the aspects of intrinsic motivation
(to know, to accomplish and to experience stimulation), the aspects of extrinsic motivation (by identification,
introjection and external regulation) and amotivation for sports. The significance of statistical difference
between groups was tested by Mann Whitney test, while consistency in answers was checked using Kruskal
Wallis test. The results show that students of physiotherapy have significantly higher sports motivation
compared to pharmacy students. Physiotherapists quantified their sports motivation with greater mark in 6 out of
7 areas of motivation; the only area that was not statistically significantly different between groups was intrinsic
motivation to experience stimulation. These results may be explained by curriculum of the study program for
physiotherapists which places great attention to kinesiology sciences through subjects like Physical education,
Kinesitherapy, etc.
Key words: students, sport, motivation