Comparing the motives for participation in public and recreational sportactivities between women and men of Tehran

The objective of this research is comparing the motives for participation in public and recreational sport activities between women and men in Tehran. The method of present study is causal-comparative. Population of this research consisted of citizens participating in public and recreational sport activities. For selecting samples by cluster sampling, 5 districts were selected randomly and 257 questionnaires were distributed. The research measurement instrument was a research-made questionnaire that after specialized polling, its validity was confirmed and its reliability reported by Cronbach’s alpha test (r=78.1%), and the questionnaire was distributed among population. Results of this study indicated between two groups of men and women in relation to the participation motive, a significant differenceexists between men and women only in happiness and joy variables (pEƒ0.001) so that the women showed more joy and happiness from public sports than the men, whist there is no significant difference between them in health, interaction and weight control (pEƒ0.05). Therefore, according to the results, it is suggested the relative centers and organizations to take measures for providing the spaces attracted by the women such as safe and secure spaces, suitable and clean rest places, using varied colors and designs to increase their motives for further presence in sport activities. In addition, benefitting from instructors and experts of sport science in public sport places is effective on increasing the motive of women and men for participation in public sport activities.