Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown the importance of motivation in promoting sustained physical activity, but the impact of cultural and geographical differences on motivational profiles remains underexplored. This study aims to address this gap by comparing motivations for engaging in health-oriented physical activity across three countries on different continents. METHODS: Following STROBE guidelines, a cross-sectional study was conducted using a stratified sampling method across three countries, yielding 1,252 respondents: 422 from Mexico, 405 from Saudi Arabia, and 425 from Spain. Participants were college students aged 18-25 years. The Motivation Scale Towards Health-Oriented Physical Activity (EMAPS), validated for the Spanish population, was used for data collection. Data integrity was ensured through response verification and addressing flagged entries. RESULTS: Identified regulation and intrinsic motivation were the most prevalent types of motivation across all three countries. All countries shared high scores in identified regulation, but cultural differences were evident. Mexico showed higher levels of self-determined regulation, while Spain and Saudi Arabia exhibited more introjected regulation and amotivation, reflecting distinct motivational profiles. CONCLUSION: Despite cultural differences, common motivational patterns for physical activity were identified, emphasizing the universal value of health and well-being goals. Mexico's motivational profile aligns closely with Self-Determination Theory (SDT), highlighting a predominantly self-determined structure with reduced external influence. Conversely, Spain and Saudi Arabia displayed stronger internalization of external pressures. These findings underscore the importance of culturally tailored interventions to promote physical activity, adapting motivational strategies to specific cultural contexts to foster long-term engagement and adherence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Prince Sultan University (PSU IRB2023110167).