Emotional Authenticity and Physical Activity Motivation in Sports Managers

Kaya A., Yurtseven C. N., Gaş Y., Kantar A. N.

Eurasian Journal of Sport Sciences and Education, cilt.8, sa.3, ss.535-545, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)

Özet

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional authenticity and motivation for participation in physical activity among sports managers. In addition, the study aimed to determine whether emotional authenticity and physical activity participation motivation differed according to gender and age. This study employed a quantitative research approach using a correlational survey design. Data were collected using the Emotional Authenticity Scale and the Physical Activity Participation Motivation Scale. The sample consisted of 237 sports managers working in public institutions and organizations in Istanbul, selected through convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U test, the Kruskal–Wallis H test, and Spearman’s rank-order correlation analysis. Total emotional authenticity was not significantly correlated with total physical activity participation motivation (r=.035, p=.592). However, significant associations were observed between specific dimensions of emotional authenticity and dimensions of physical activity participation motivation. Authentic behavior was positively correlated with individual reasons (r=.171, p=.008), environmental reasons (r=.251, p < .001), and total physical activity participation motivation (r=.150, p=.021), and negatively correlated with amotivation (r=-.256, p < .001). Emotional avoidance was positively correlated with environmental reasons (r=.262, p < .001) and amotivation (r=.150, p=.021), and negatively correlated with total physical activity participation motivation (r=-.145, p=.026). Total emotional authenticity was negatively correlated with amotivation (r=-.174, p=.007). No statistically significant differences were found according to gender or age for any of the emotional authenticity or physical activity participation motivation subdimensions or total scores (p > .05). The findings indicate that total emotional authenticity was not significantly correlated with total physical activity participation motivation. Nevertheless, specific dimensions of emotional authenticity were significantly associated with certain dimensions of physical activity participation motivation, although these associations were generally weak in magnitude. These findings should be interpreted cautiously, as the cross-sectional and correlational design does not permit causal conclusions. Further research using larger, more diverse, and longitudinal samples is needed to clarify the relationship between emotional authenticity and physical activity participation motivation among sports managers.