Peculiarities of self-assessment and motivation for fitness in men of the first period of mature age

Abstract

Introduction. Modern living conditions, characterised by insufficient practice of muscle exertion, significantly emphasise the role of physical exercises in enhancing health, as according to experts, such exercises make it possible to perform a range of health-oriented tasks, including improving the functioning of the muscular apparatus, cardiovascular, respiratory and other body systems. The problem of the health-improving dimension of systematic physical exercises with mature people has been the subject of a number of theoretical and experimental studies. The purpose of the study is to determine the peculiarities of self-assessment of fitness motivation of men aged 26-31. Research methods: theoretical analysis and synthesis of literary sources, pedagogical experiment. Sociological research methods. Methods of mathematical statistics. The results. The study showed that the participants aged 26-28 were more confident in their own physical abilities and saw a much more positive result in training than men aged 29-31, who expressed more anxiety and negative emotions about their fitness self-esteem. Fitness motivation was also significantly higher among men aged 26-28, indicating their greater willingness and desire to engage in fitness. Men aged 29-31 demonstrated less stable and high motivation, more often pointing to fatigue, excessive effort during training, and the need for a company to support their motivation. The structure of motives of men aged 26-28 was dominated by achievement of personal results and self-improvement, while older men focused more on health, improvement of well-being and professional activity. According to the above data, in order to maintain the motivation of men aged 26-28, it is necessary to develop training programmes that include elements of competition and individual achievements. For men aged 29-31, it is better to include social aspects in training, such as group classes, and take into account their health care and stress reduction needs. In addition, considering participants’ individual motivations and self-esteem when developing fitness programmes can help to achieve better results and increase satisfaction with the exercise. Conclusions. The analysis of fitness self-esteem, motivation and structure of motivation of men aged 26-31 points to the need for a differentiated approach to training programmes that takes into account age-related characteristics and motivational factors to ensure effective and satisfactory fitness training.