Practical solution

This research aims to integrate practical and theoretical solutions to increase motivation for sports participation among workers. The study employed a cross-sectional and correlational design, focusing on the statistical population of employees at Iranol Oil Company in Tehran in 2019, which consisted of 890 individuals. Based on Karjesi and Morgan's table, 261 participants were selected using an available sampling method. The research utilized tools for measuring motivation for sports participation (Gill et al., 1984), cognitive regulation of emotion (Garnefsky and Kraij, 2006), and feelings of joy (Argill and Lowe, 1990). Structural equation analysis was employed to test the research hypotheses. The findings indicated that the model had a good fit. Specifically, in the final model, the standard path coefficients for adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation on sports participation motivation were 0.17 and -0.40, respectively. This suggests that the skill of cognitive emotion regulation (a practical strategy) plays a significant role in the relationship between feelings of vitality (a theoretical approach) and motivation for sports participation. The developed model for sports participation motivation serves as a foundational tool for creating practical programs aimed at enhancing participation in sports among various groups. Additionally, implementing interventions to teach individuals emotion regulation strategies—along with fostering changes in cognition and behavior—can promote self-regulation and subsequently increase sports participation. Finally, efforts to enhance societal vitality represent a theoretical solution to reduce maladaptive emotional regulation, thereby fostering greater motivation for sports participation.

This research was conducted with the aim of integrating practical and theoretical strategies to enhance the motivation for sports participation among workers. The design of this research was cross-sectional and correlational. The statistical population of the present study consisted of all employees of Iranol Oil Company in Tehran in 2020, totaling 890 individuals. Among them, 261 were selected based on the Krejcie and Morgan table using the available sampling method. In this study, the tools used were the Sports Participation Motivation Scale (Gill et al., 1984), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Garnefski and Kraaij, 2006), and the Subjective Vitality Scale (Ryan and Frederick, 1997). Additionally, structural equation modeling was used to test the research hypotheses. The research findings indicated that the model had a good fit. Accordingly, the findings showed that in the final model, the standardized path coefficients for adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation on sports participation motivation were 0.17 and -0.40, respectively. Therefore, the skill of emotion regulation (practical strategy) was significant in the relationship between the feeling of vitality (theoretical strategy) and sports participation motivation. Using the results obtained from the developed model of sports participation motivation, a foundation is laid for creating practical programs to improve the inclination towards sports participation among various segments of the population. Additionally, implementing interventions to educate individuals on learning emotion regulation strategies through changes in cognition and behavior to achieve greater self-regulation provides a practical basis for increasing sports participation. Ultimately, focusing on enhancing community vitality serves as a theoretical approach to reducing maladaptive emotion regulation, thereby fostering the growth of sports participation motivation.