Passion for sport, vigorous physical activity and satisfaction with life

Abstract

The goal of this study was to assess the role of passion for sport in predicting vigorous physical activity and satisfaction with life. A total of 243 college athletes agreed to participate (95 males and 148 females) with an average age of 20.42. The psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Passion Scale developed by Vallerand et al. (2003) were tested in the specific context of sport. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the bi-factorial structure of the scale: Harmonious passion (HP) and Obsessive passion (OP). The internal reliability of both factors was high. The scale also showed a correct discriminant and convergent validity. Both types of passion positively predicted vigorous physical activity, more than motivation. However, HP and OP predicted satisfaction with life positively and negatively, respectively. Results support the literature on passion, psychological well-being, and intensity of physical activity.