Examining the relationship between sports participation motivations for participation in sports and their self-efficacy

This research aims to determine the relationship between exercise facility members' motivation for sports participation and their levels of self-efficacy. A relational survey design using quantitative models was employed in the study. The evaluation of participants included a demographic information form, general self-efficacy scale, and sports participation motivation scales. Firstly, a normality test was applied to analyze the obtained data. It was determined that the data did not exhibit a normal distribution. Therefore, the Mann Whitney U test was used for binary group comparisons, and the Kruskal Wallis test was used for comparisons involving more than two groups. When a difference was found in the Kruskal Wallis test, the Mann Whitney U test was employed to identify the difference between variables. Spearman Rho correlation test was used to determine the relationship between variables. Significant differences were found in self-efficacy performances based on age groups, gender, maternal education, paternal education, sports age, and sports branches (p < 0.05), while no significant differences were found in education status, income status, and weekly activity levels (p > 0.05). When evaluated with sports participation motivation, significant differences were found in age groups, gender, maternal education, paternal education, sports age, sports branch, education status, income status, and weekly activity levels (p < 0.05). Additionally, a significant relationship was found between motivation and self-efficacy total scores (p < 0.05). There was a significant relationship between the "Motivation Achievement" and "Friends and Competition" sub-dimensions of the self-efficacy "Starting" sub-dimension (p < 0.05). The "Persistence" sub-dimension showed a relationship with the sub-dimensions of physical fitness, friends, skill development, and being active (p < 0.05). According to the findings, it can be said that as sports participation motivation increases, individuals' levels of self-efficacy also increase.