Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Vahid Saat chian ¹
• Ahmad Mahmoudi ²
• Mohamad Hossein Ghorbani ³
• Amir Izadkhah ⁴

¹ Imam Reza International University

² Assistant Professor, Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

³ Allameh Tabataba'i University

⁴ Islamic Azad University of Shahrood

Abstract

 
This research examines the effect of virtual media as background factors on people’s willingness to spend their time on sport-related activities during their free time. This research fits the category of practical in its objective, correlation research in its type, and has been conveyed as field work research. The populace of Sabzevar was considered as the research population, and in this respect 400 questionnaires were distributed, fitting the mythological body of the research. The questionnaire was designed to examine the willingness of the participants and the effect of virtual social media on their intentions; the data eventually was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (t-sample and coincidental regression test). The results proved the existence of a meaningful relationship between virtual social media as background factors and participants’ tendency to do sports. The correlation ratio was 48 percent, and the coefficient of explanation was 22 percent. In this regard, it can be claimed that virtual social media can change 22 percent of such tendencies as background coefficient factors. Considering that social participation and information distribution among these factors had the highest impact on one’s tendency to engage with sport-related activities, it can be said that people’s motivation in participating in sport can be improved provided that media properly cover and distribute information and news regarding public walks and other public sport-related activities.

Keywords

• Leisure time
• Social media
• Environmental factors
• Virtual
• Sport