SPORTS MOTIVATION AMONG RUSSIAN AND BULGARIAN STUDENT

Motivation is key to success in every field of activity. We consider it important to improve sports motivation among young people, because sport is basis for healthy life and provides support to other spheres of life. Through sport we develop adaptation and social skills, we learn how to overcome difficulties and stress, where to find courage to continue attempts and how to motivate ourselves to routine activities.The study purpose was to investigate cultural differences in sports motivation among Bulgarian and Russian students and the role of culture and sex in it. We used two questionnaires: The Sport Motivation Scale (R.J. Vallerand) and Motivation in sport performance (A.V. Shaboltas). We conducted Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman's rho and two-factor analysis of variance.Results indicate that Russian male students have higher results in Intrinsic motivation-to know than Bulgarian ones. Among women Russian students have higher results in Self- affirmation motive, Social-emotional motive, Social-moral motive, Sport achievement motive, Civil-patriotic motive, Purpose incorporation, Social approval, Demotivation, Extrinsic motivation. Rational-volitional motive and Employment preparation motive are higher among Bulgarian female students.As we see both nationality and sex influence sports motivation. To investigate it further we conducted two-factor analysis of variance. It showed us that Social-moral motive, Civil-patriotic motive, Purpose incorporation and Extrinsic motivation are determined only factor nationality. Emotional satisfaction motive, Rational-volitional motive and Employment preparation motive are influenced by combined factor of nationality and sex. Self-affirmation motive, Social-emotional moti ve and Social approval are influenced by nationality and combined factor of nationality and sex. Sex, nationality and combined factor of nationality and sex influence the Demotivation .Qualitative analysis of correlation showed that Russian students have more complex, vast and holistic motive composition than Bulgarian students. The core of it consists of Extrinsic motivation, Learning something new, Sport achievement motive, Employment preparation motive. The correlation structure of Bulgarian students has its core consisting of Intrinsic motivation, Rational-volitional motive, Emotional satisfaction motive. These results let us understand how to increase sports motivation among students considering their sex and nationality, which aspects of motivation are to be strengthened and which motives are the key to healthy lifestyle.