Motivação em praticantes de Crossfit ® : uma análise a partir do sexo, categoria competitiva e tempo de prática

Abstract

CrossFit ® is a new type of physical exercise based on high intensity training and varied functional movements, which is gaining ground in recent years, possibly due to its characteristics and associated motivating factors. However, to date, no studies evaluating motivational factors of CrossFit® practitioners have been identified considering variables such as gender, practice time and competitive level. The present study aimed to evaluate motivational factors in CrossFit ® practitioners. This is a cross-sectional study, with a non- probabilistic convenience sample of adult men and women, enrolled in CrossFit ® affiliated boxes in the city of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil. To evaluate motivational factors the Brazilian version of the Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 was applied. In addition, sociodemographic data such as age, sex, practice time, weekly frequency of practice, and competitive categories were evaluated. Independent t-test was used to compare motivational factors between sexes (male and female), competitive categories (RX and Scale) and also, by the time of practice of the modality (less than or greater than twenty weeks of practice). The results show that men expressed higher scores on "Competition" factor when compared to women (15,35 (6,38) vs. 12,26 (6,05), respectively). Among the competitive categories it was observed that practitioner of the RX competitive level showed more motivated by the practice of CrossFit® in the domains of "Fun and well-being" (26,53 (3,93) vs. 24,73 (5,83)), "Competition" (15,31 (6,14) vs. 12,43 (6,31)) and "Physical condition" (16,92 (3,18) vs. 15,66 (3,75)). Finally, a significant difference was observed between practitioners with practice time of less than two years and more than two years, the latter being those who obtained higher scores in the domains "Stress control" (16,73 (3,63) vs. 14,60 (4,97)), "Illness prevention" (23,73 (4,47) vs. 21,81 (5,45)) and "Total score of the instrument" (152,37 (25,23) vs. 141,21 (30,21)). We conclude that variables such as gender, competitive category and practice time are important factors to consider about the motivation to practice CrossFit ® . Teachers and coaches may consider the motivational factors described, as well as the observed differences between the studied variables, in order to obtain results when practicing this modality.