2017, Volume 9, Issue 4

Physical activity and sport as a protective factor against health- -threatening experiments with adulthood

Magdalena Jochimek¹, Daniel Krokosz¹, Mariusz Lipowski<sup>1

1</sup>Faculty of Tourism and Recreation, Department of Health Psychology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport


Author for correspondence: Mariusz Lipowski; Faculty of Tourism and Recreation, Department of Health Psychology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport; email: mariusz.lipowski[at]awfis.gda.pl

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to specify to what extent goal orientation in physical activity and sports constitutes a protective factor against involvement in risky behaviors.

The research group consisted of 430 eighteen-year-old high school students (females n = 203; males n = 227; athletes n = 137; physically active n = 198; inactive group n = 95). Subjects were asked to complete a „pen-and-paper” task of filling-in the IPAO Lipowski & Zaleski (2015) and a questionnaire concerning involvement in risky behaviors.

Male athletes high scores in persistence in action dimension were reflected by a lower likelihood of cigarette smoking and illicit drug use. The importance of heterogeneity of objectives turned out to be a buffering dimension protecting female athletes against alcohol drinking.

Physical activity and practicing competitive sports may constitute a protective factor, especially among young women. Further exploration of issues concerning adolescents’ purposeful actions may enrich our knowledge about the prevention of risky behaviors.

Key words: sport psychology, risky behavior, physical activity, goal-oriented behavior