A Comparative Study Between Exercise Participation Motivation, Exercise Satisfaction, and Exercise Continuance Intention in Korean and Japanese College Ice Hockey Players Kim, Young Cho Major in Physical Education Dept. of Education The Graduate Schoo...
A Comparative Study Between Exercise Participation Motivation, Exercise Satisfaction, and Exercise Continuance Intention in Korean and Japanese College Ice Hockey Players Kim, Young Cho Major in Physical Education Dept. of Education The Graduate School Kwangwoon University In this study comparatively analyzed the effects of sport participation motivation and sport satisfaction on intention to continue exercise among university ice hockey players in Korea and Japan. Through a comparison of Korean and Japanese university ice hockey players, the purpose of this study was to identify the current status of Korean ice hockey players and to provide useful information that not only encourages active and continuous participation in sport but also helps players plan and design their future career paths. For this purpose, data were collected from a sample consisting of all 90 Korean university ice hockey players registered with the Korea Ice Hockey Association in 2024 and 113 Japanese university ice hockey players who participated in the 2nd Dancho Cup Tournament held in the Kushiro region of Japan in 2024. A convenience sampling method, one of the non-probability sampling techniques, was employed for the survey. A total of 203 questionnaires were distributed, and after excluding 17 questionnaires deemed to be insincerely answered, data from 186 participants were used for the final analysis. To analyze the collected data, descriptive statistics, t-tests, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and covariance structure analysis were conducted. Based on the analysis of the data collected, the results of this study are as follows. Regarding the effects of sport participation motivation on the training and coaching subfactor of sport satisfaction, Korean university ice hockey players showed a significant influence of participation motivation on training and coaching, with amotivation emerging as a significant subfactor. In contrast, Japanese university ice hockey players also demonstrated a significant effect of participation motivation on training and coaching, with social satisfaction and recognition, as well as personal recognition, showing significant influences. In analyzing the effects of sport participation motivation on the medical staff subfactor of sport satisfaction, Korean university ice hockey players showed that participation motivation had a significant overall effect on the medical staff factor; however, none of the subfactors of participation motivation had a significant influence. Conversely, among Japanese university ice hockey players, participation motivation had a significant effect on the medical staff factor, with the subfactor of social satisfaction and recognition showing a significant influence. Regarding the effects of sport participation motivation on the ability and performance subfactor of sport satisfaction, Korean university ice hockey players exhibited a significant effect of participation motivation, with amotivation identified as a significant subfactor. On the other hand, Japanese university ice hockey players showed significant effects of participation motivation on ability and performance, with intrinsic satisfaction and social satisfaction and recognition also exerting significant influences. In examining the effects of sport participation motivation on the budget and academic support subfactor of sport satisfaction, Korean university ice hockey players showed a significant overall effect of participation motivation; however, none of the participation motivation subfactors significantly influenced this factor. In contrast, Japanese university ice hockey players demonstrated a significant effect of participation motivation on budget and academic support, with social satisfaction and recognition emerging as a significant subfactor. With respect to the effects of sport participation motivation on team cohesion, contribution, and commitment, Korean university ice hockey players showed a significant influence of participation motivation, with amotivation as a significant subfactor. Japanese university ice hockey players also showed a significant overall effect; however, none of the participation motivation subfactors had a statistically significant influence. In analyzing the effects of sport participation motivation on intention to continue exercise, Korean university ice hockey players showed that participation motivation had a significant effect, with intrinsic satisfaction and amotivation identified as significant subfactors. Similarly, Japanese university ice hockey players also demonstrated a significant influence of participation motivation on intention to continue exercise, with intrinsic satisfaction and amotivation emerging as significant subfactors. Regarding the effects of sport satisfaction on intention to continue exercise, Korean university ice hockey players showed that sport satisfaction significantly influenced intention to continue exercise, with ability and performance, as well as team cohesion, contribution, and commitment, identified as significant subfactors. In contrast, Japanese university ice hockey players demonstrated significant effects of sport satisfaction on intention to continue exercise, with training and coaching, medical staff, and ability and performance emerging as significant subfactors. The analysis of the causal relationships among sport participation motivation, sport satisfaction, and intention to continue exercise revealed that for Korean university ice hockey players, participation motivation had a significant effect on sport satisfaction, and sport satisfaction, in turn, had a significant effect on intention to continue exercise. Additionally, participation motivation also had a direct significant effect on intention to continue exercise. Conversely, among Japanese university ice hockey players, participation motivation significantly influenced sport satisfaction, but sport satisfaction did not have a statistically significant effect on intention to continue exercise. However, participation motivation had a significant direct effect on intention to continue exercise. Meanwhile, an analysis of differences between Korean and Japanese university ice hockey players revealed that amotivation and social satisfaction and recognition were lower among Korean players compared to Japanese players. Personal recognition was higher among Korean players, while no significant differences were found in intrinsic satisfaction and value attribution. Regarding sport satisfaction, Korean university ice hockey players scored higher than their Japanese counterparts in training and coaching, as well as in budget and academic support. Team cohesion, contribution, and commitment were also higher among Korean players, whereas no significant differences were observed in the medical staff or ability and performance factors. Additionally, Korean university ice hockey players demonstrated a higher intention to continue exercise compared to Japanese players, with the difference being statistically significant. In summary, the results confirm that sport participation motivation, sport satisfaction, and intention to continue exercise are interrelated and exert significant influences on one another among Korean and Japanese university ice hockey players. To enhance participation satisfaction and intention to continue exercise, sport participation motivation plays a crucial role, and strategies should be developed to enhance intrinsic motivation while reducing amotivation. Furthermore, the competence of coaches and the formation of trust between coaches and athletes are essential prerequisites for sport satisfaction. Coaches should recognize that their role extends beyond teaching technical skills and that they play a critical role in sustaining athletes’ long-term participation in sport. For the expansion of the participant base and the continued growth of ice hockey as a winter sport, Korean ice hockey players should move beyond an education-oriented approach to sport participation and be able to engage in the sport with enjoyment and interest. Through this shift, it is expected that athletes’ intention to continue participation in ice hockey will be further enhanced.
Keywords : Ice Hockey, Exercise Participation Motivation, Exercise Satisfaction, Exercise Continuance Intention, College Athletes, Career Education, Elite Sports