Participation in Leisure-Time Physical Activity: A Comparison of the Existing Data

An investigation of the characteristics and motives of RAGBRAI participants

“…Analyses from the various perspectives suggest that social relationships were perceived by RAGBRAI participants to be the most important benefit gained from participation. These results differ from previous work which has identified fitness and health (physical and psychological) as the most important benefits of participation in physical activity and sport (Altheide & Pfuhl, 1980;Carmack & Martens, 1979;Lupton et al, 1984;Summers et al, 1983). As noted earlier, part of the difference in the RAGBRAI data may be accounted for by the fact that the Fitness benefft scores were influenced downward by the "lose weight"…”

“…However, a higher percentage of RAGBRAI participants were single than was found in the United States and Iowa Census data, and the Des Moines Register readership. The finding that RAGBRAI appears to have attracted more single than married people supports the observation of Lupton et al (1984) that single adults are more involved in active participation in physical activity.…”

“…In general, the benefits that participants derived from RAGBRAI were simllar to those observed in other studies (Altheide & Pfuhl, 1980;Carmack & Martens, 1979;Lupton et al, 1984;Summers et al, 1983).…”

“…Much of the literature on motives for participation has actually been based on the benefits or "psychophysical consequences" of participation (Spreitzer & Snyder, 1983, p. 28), and as William Morgan (1974, p. 235) concludes, "the physical and psychological benefits of involvement in vigorous physical activity are well documented." However, Httle research has been conducted regarding participants' satisfactions or perceived benefits of their involvement (Lupton et al, 1984). Still fewer studies have compared the motives and benefits of participation (Altheide & Pfuhl, 1980;Carmack & Martens, 1979;Summers et a1., 1983).…”

“…In contrast, the Miller Lite Report (Mi ller Brewing Company, 1983) data showed that 70% of Americans participated in sport or physical exercise at least once a week. Lupton et al (1984) found that the number of people who say they participate in sport ranged from 36-59%. It appears, therefore, that RAGBRAI participants appeared to be generally more active than those surveyed in previous studies.…”