Adult physical activity is important for prevention of chronic diseases and to minimize health issues; therefore, the motivational influences of sociodemographic variables on participation in organized physical activity events warrant an investigation. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate differences in motivational influences between various sociodemographic variables as related to physical activity events in organized settings. The theoretical framework that guided this research study consisted of the theory of reasoned action (TRA), and the health belief model (HBM). The TRA was applied to study the intention of health behavior, while the HBM was used to investigate individuals' motivation to engage in organized physical activity events. A cross-sectional study design in which an online survey consisting of the 40 item Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale was used to collect data from adults who participated in an organized 5K or 10K running or walking event. The inferential statistical tests of the independent t test, one-way ANOVA, and ordinal logistic regression were used to determine the statistical relationships. The main research finding suggested that 6 motivational influences showed statistically significant relationship with organized physical activity events, which consisted of others' expectations (p = .025), competition/ego (p = .001), appearance (p = .001), affiliation (p = .034), mastery (p = .001), and psychological condition (p = .002) as it relates to their age group and gender. The research findings may be used to influence engagement in future organized physical activity events by understanding the sociodemographic variables relating to participation rates that may result in increased physical activity behavior within the community.

Résumé : Introduction : Les infrastructures récréatives telles que les parcs et les pistes cyclables peuvent fournir des opportunités pour pratiquer l’activité physique (AP). Comme les déterminants de l’AP organisée et non-organisée (APO et APNO) pourraient différer, nous avons investigués si la proximité à des infrastructures récréatives est associée avec le maintien de la participation à l’APO et à l’APNO sur une durée de trois ans lors de la transition entre l’enfance et l’adolescence. Méthodes : 187 jeunes, initialement âgées de 10 à 12 ans, ont rapporté leur participation à l’APO et l’APNO trois fois par an pendant trois ans pour un total de neuf cycles d’observations. Les données sur la proximité des infrastructures récréatives ont été obtenues par le biais de questionnaires téléphoniques auprès des parents. Les scores de proximité ont été divisés en tertiles. Des analyses Kaplan-Meier et des modèles de risques proportionnels de Cox ont été utilisés pour estimer les associations univariées et multivariées entre la proximité aux infrastructures récréatives et le nombre de cycles moyen dans lequel l’APO et l’APNO a été maintenu. Résultats : Aucune différence, brute ou ajustée, de la durée moyenne du maintien de la participation à l’APO [nombre de cycles d’observation moyen (intervalle de confiance 95%) était 6.6 (5.7, 7.5), 6.3 (5.5, 7.1), et 5.8 (5.1, 6.6)] et à l’APNO [6.8 (6.2, 7.4), 5.9 (5.3, 6.5), 6.6 (5.9, 7.3)] a été observée entre les tertiles de proximités bas, moyen et haut, respectivement. Conclusion : Les résultats suggèrent que la proximité aux infrastructures récréatives n’influence pas le maintien de l’APO et de l’APNO lors de la transition entre l’enfance et l’adolescence. D’autres aspects de l’environnement physique pourraient avoir un effet sur le maintien de l’APO et de l’APNO. / Abstract : Background: Physical activity (PA) infrastructures such as parks and cycle lanes can provide youth opportunities to engage in physical activity. As the determinants of organized and unorganized PA (OPA and UPA) are likely to differ, we investigated if proximity to PA infrastructure was associated with maintenance of participation in OPA and UPA over 3 years during the transition from childhood to adolescence. Methods: Youth (n=187) initially 10-12 years self-reported participation in OPA and UPA at 4 month intervals over 3 years for a total of nine survey cycles. Data on proximity to PA infrastructures was obtained from parents through phone-based questionnaires. Proximity scores were divided into tertiles. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess univariate and multivariate associations between proximity to PA infrastructure and number of cycles in which OPA and UPA were maintained. Results: There were no crude or adjusted differences in average duration of maintenance of participation in OPA [mean number of survey cycle participation (95% confidence interval) was 6.6 (5.7, 7.5), 6.3 (5.5, 7.1), and 5.8 (5.1, 6.6)] and UPA [6.8 (6.2, 7.4), 5.9 (5.3, 6.5), 6.6 (5.9, 7.3)] across low, moderate and high tertiles of proximity to PA infrastructure scores, respectively. Conclusion: Findings are suggestive that proximity to PA infrastructure alone does not affect maintenance of participation in OPA or UPA during adolescence. Other aspects of the environment may have a greater effect. Thus, further research is needed on these aspects before firm conclusions can be drawn.