Quality of Life and Exercise Motivation of Normal-Weight and Overweight Adolescents

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine gender and body-mass
index differences in quality of life and exercise motives of
adolescents. The sample consisted of 744 first-year high
school students from the City of Zagreb. Quality of life was
measured with an adapted version of the Kidscreen-27, and
exercise motivation with the EMI-2. The results suggest that
adolescents experience positive quality of life and their
exercise motivation derives from intrinsic and extrinsic
motives. Higher levels of male adolescents' quality of life,
compared to females', predominantly result from a greater
sense of physical well-being, more pleasant emotions and
moods, more positive school and family environment, and
the ability to plan and spend leisure time. Normal-weight
adolescents are more satisfied with their physical activity and
health than overweight ones. Male adolescents are more
driven by enjoyment, challenge, competition, strength, and
social motives (belonging, pressure, and recognition), unlike
females, who exercise more because of weight control.
Normal-weight adolescents are more motivated for exercise
by enjoyment than overweight ones, who are more driven by
weight control. The implications of these findings were
discussed.