Figure 1 shows the values of motivational factors for
exercise reported by university students. When the hierarchy
of mean values found for each motivational factor is
considered, the most emphasized factor was characteristic
of the motivational context of disease prevention (3.49 ±
0.61). The factors least emphasized in statistical language
were found in the motivational context of social recognition
(1.23 ± 0.39) and competition (1.61 ± 0.61). The remaining
motivational factors were gathered in an intermediate
position in which the mean values of physical fitness (2.95 ±
0.69), body weight management (2.90 ± 0.85), physical
appearance (2.80 ± 0.68) and stress management (2.80 ± 0.77)
were significantly different from the mean values observed
in leisure/well-being (2.40 ± 0.70), affiliation (2.28 ± 0.66) and
health rehabilitation (2.16 ± 0.74).