Latent profiles of sport participation motivation and their association with campus sports culture among higher vocational college students

Physical activity and student wellness have long been central pillars of higher education public health strategies, yet motivating vocational college students remains a persistent hurdle. A comprehensive new study published in Frontiers in Psychology (Vol. 17, 2026) has shed light on this issue by identifying distinct psychological drivers of exercise among higher vocational college (HVC) students. Led by researchers Yiyuan Zhang, Dan Wang, and Wen Yan, the study explores how internal motivations interact with institutional environments, revealing critical insights that could reshape how physical education is structured across vocational campuses in China.

Background and Public Health Context

The modern educational landscape in China places immense emphasis on vocational training. By 2024, total enrollment in higher education reached nearly 38.91 million students, with vocational undergraduate and higher vocational college programs accounting for 18.05 million—roughly 46.4% of the country’s entire higher education population. Despite this massive demographic, health data regarding vocational students’ physical activity levels have raised alarms among public health officials. Recent tracking surveys indicate that only 30.2% of Chinese college students engage in adequate moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, while a staggering 77.6% are restricted primarily to low-intensity movements.

Unlike traditional academic undergraduates, higher vocational students face unique pressures centered on practical skill acquisition, rigorous technical training, internships, and imminent employment transitions. These demanding schedules often squeeze out time for regular recreation. Furthermore, student motivation for sports is rarely uniform. Understanding whether students are driven by genuine personal enjoyment, peer pressure, or external obligation is vital for designing effective fitness programs. To capture this internal complexity, the research team utilized Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and applied a person-centered statistical approach known as Latent Profile Analysis (LPA).

Methodology and Chronology of the Study

The cross-sectional study was executed between February and April 2026 across three prominent higher vocational institutions located in economically dynamic eastern provinces: Nanjing and Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, and Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province.

Utilizing convenience sampling, the research team administered an online survey utilizing two primary measurement instruments: the Campus Sports Culture Scale (CSCS) and the Chinese college student version of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-3 (BREQ-3). The survey also meticulously accounted for ethical standards, securing informed consent from adult participants while obtaining parental consent and student assent for participants under the age of 18.

Out of 2,166 initially completed surveys, data cleaning removed 141 questionnaires flagged for patterned responding or missing fields. The final valid dataset comprised 2,025 students (905 males, 1,120 females) representing first-year (839), second-year (672), and third-year (514) cohorts, yielding an effective response rate of 93.5%. The study protocol received formal institutional review board approval from the Ethics Committee of Suzhou Vocational Health College (Approval No. SWYXLL202601).

Statistical modeling was conducted using Mplus 8.3. Researchers evaluated latent profiles based on six subscale indicators of the BREQ-3 (amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, integrated regulation, and intrinsic motivation) and employed the advanced R3STEP three-step procedure to evaluate demographic variables and campus sports culture dimensions while eliminating classification error bias.

Key Findings: Motivational Profiles Unveiled

The latent profile analysis successfully categorized students into four distinct motivational groups, challenging the assumption that student motivation is a one-dimensional spectrum:

1. Moderate Mixed-Motivation Profile (52.6%): Comprising over half of the student body, this group displayed mid-range scores across all measured motivational regulations. It highlights that vocational students frequently harbor conflicting drivers, simultaneously balancing autonomous desires for fitness with external academic or institutional pressures.
2. Autonomous Orientation Profile (33.1%): Representing roughly one-third of the sample, these students demonstrated high levels of intrinsic interest, integrated goals, and identified regulations, indicating a healthy, self-endorsed commitment to sports.
3. High Controlled–Amotivation Profile (8.4%): Characterized by strong external regulations and high amotivation, this small group feels largely compelled to exercise due to outside mandates rather than personal choice.
4. Low-to-Moderate Flat Profile (5.8%): Comprising the smallest fraction, these students reported consistently low scores across all motivational indicators, reflecting a general apathy toward campus physical activities.

Demographic breakdowns revealed minimal variation across sex. However, significant grade-level differences emerged ($p < 0.001$). First-year students were notably overrepresented in the Autonomous Orientation Profile, likely buoyed by initial enthusiasm and structured physical education curricula. Conversely, third-year students showed an overrepresentation in the High Controlled–Amotivation Profile, potentially reflecting the mounting strain of upcoming job searches, internships, and career placement pressures.

The Impact of Campus Sports Culture

A central contribution of the research is its evaluation of how the physical and social campus environment—collectively termed Campus Sports Culture (CSC)—associates with student motivational profiles.

When analyzing total CSC scores relative to the Low-to-Moderate Flat reference profile, researchers found that higher overall institutional sports culture strongly increased the odds of belonging to the more engaged motivational groups. The strongest association manifested in the Autonomous Orientation Profile (Odds Ratio = 1.287, $p < 0.001$).

When dissecting CSC into its four constituent dimensions—material, institutional, spiritual, and behavioral culture—nuanced patterns emerged:

• Material culture (facilities, equipment, and sports spaces) showed a consistent positive association across all three active profiles, emphasizing that basic infrastructure remains a fundamental baseline for student engagement.
• Behavioral culture (active participation climates and habits) exhibited the most profound impact on the Autonomous Orientation Profile ($textOR = 2.289$), suggesting that an energetic peer environment deeply bolsters self-driven exercise habits.
• Spiritual culture (values, school spirit, and cultural atmosphere) also positively correlated with autonomous and mixed motivation.
• Institutional culture (formal rules, management, and curriculum structures) showed no independent association with profile membership after accounting for other variables, indicating that formal mandates alone do not inherently sway psychological motivation without supportive behavioral and material environments.

Implications and Future Directions

The findings carry significant implications for vocational education administrators and public health policymakers. By recognizing that over half of vocational students possess mixed motivations and that third-year students face growing amotivation, colleges can move away from rigid, one-size-fits-all physical education mandates.

Experts suggest that institutions should focus on cultivating vibrant behavioral and spiritual sports cultures—such as student-led clubs, recreational leagues, and flexible facility hours—to ease the transition from external coercion to internal enjoyment. Funding for this research was provided by the Jiangsu Provincial Philosophy and Social Science Foundation (Grant No. 2025SJYB1142) and the Scientific Research Foundation of Suzhou Health Vocational College (Grant No. SZWZYQDJ2519), underscoring regional commitment to addressing student welfare.

While the cross-sectional nature of the study precludes definitive causal claims, the findings establish a vital baseline. Future research will need to implement longitudinal and intervention designs to track how shifting campus environments actively transform student motivation over the course of their vocational careers.