Abstract

Technology and machine innovation brings about a decrease in sports activities. Sports activities should be encouraged because it leads to a healthier life of people. The purpose of this study is to examine and prioritize the factors causing disinterest amongst teachers in sports activities in Mazandaran Province in Iran. The focus is on personal and situational factors. A survey was conducted and the population consisted of 41 783 teachers employed in the province. The sample size was 728 teachers, selected by stratified cluster sampling. The survey instrument used was a structured questionnaire which was distributed in the West, Central and Eastern regions of the province. The data analysis included a Pearson Correlation, Spearman Correlation, and Friedman test. The results indicate that personal factors are significantly and positively related to the disinterest of the respondents in sports activities (r = 0.652, p<0.01). Moreover, situational factors are significantly and positively related to the disinterest of respondent in sports activities (rho = 0.723, p<0.01). There is a significant difference between personal and situational factors in terms of the disinterest of respondents in sports activities (χ2 (df = 1) = 983.668, p<0.01). The priority was referred to as the situational factors (MR = 2.11) followed by the personal factors (MR = 1.67). It was concluded that personal and situational factors had influences on disinterest of teachers in sports activities. The appealing effect of the characteristics of an activity on individuals (situational factors) was preferred to the psychological disposition in preference of an activity or an action (personal factors). The findings suggest that to increase interest, sport managers should consider the disinterest factors in developing sport among teachers.

Key words: Disinterest, sports activities, teachers, personal factors, situational factors.