Research in Sports Management and Movement Behavior

The Relationship Between Sports Participation Motivation And The Socioeconomic Status Of Youth In Tehran

Document Type : Scientific-Research

Authors

Mehdi Shahbazi 1
Mohammad Taghi Khorand 2
Shaghayegh Modaberi 2

1 Professor, Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sports Sciences, Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Mazandaran, Iran.

10.22034/jrsm.2026.6992
Abstract
Aim: Sport participation is influenced by numerous individual, social, and economic factors. Understanding the determinants of participation motivation can contribute to the development of effective strategies for increasing physical activity among young people. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between sport participation motivation and socioeconomic status among youth in Tehran.
Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted using a field-based approach. The participants consisted of 130 young individuals (65 males and 65 females) recruited from sports clubs located in the northern, southern, eastern, and western regions of Tehran. Data were collected using the Participation Motivation Questionnaire (PMQ) and a Socioeconomic Status (SES) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data.
Results: The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between sport participation motivation and socioeconomic status (p < 0.05). Significant positive associations were also found between participation motivation and family income, economic class, parental educational level, and housing status. Furthermore, male participants demonstrated significantly higher sport participation motivation than females.
Conclusion: Socioeconomic advantages, including higher family income, better housing conditions, and higher parental educational attainment, appear to play a substantial role in enhancing youth motivation toward sport participation. Policymakers and sport administrators should develop supportive programs and accessible facilities to encourage physical activity among young people from different socioeconomic backgrounds

Keywords

Education
Income
Participation Motivation
socioeconomic status
young people
Physical Activity
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 21 February 2026
  • Revise Date 16 May 2026
  • Accept Date 26 May 2026
  • Publish Date 01 July 2026