Beach Volley And Wellbeing: A Qualitative Research On Psycophysical Efforts
Keywords:
motivation, self-esteem, questionnaire, perceptions, stress, relationshipsAbstract
Purpose: Beach Volleyball (BV) is a sport derived from indoor volleyball, but with different rules and gameplay dynamics.
Over time, it has gained popularity for both its recreational and competitive aspects, requiring a balanced aerobic-anaerobic
energy effort. Its growth has led to an increasing demand for specific practice and dedicated sports facilities, including urban
areas. Given these characteristics, BV can also be used to promote psychophysical well-being. However, scientific literature
lacks studies analyzing recreational BV in terms of perceived psychophysical benefits and practitioners' opinions. This study
aims to assess the perceptions and opinions of recreational BV players regarding psychophysical, motivational, and socialrelational
aspects.
Methods: The convenience sample consists of 34 amateur players (24 males, 10 females) aged between 21 and 45 years, who
have been regularly practicing BV for at least one year at a non-competitive level. Participants completed a 10-item closedended
questionnaire divided into two sections: the first identifying the sample characteristics and the second evaluating
opinions and perceived enjoyment of the sport.
Results: Fifty-eight percent of participants highly appreciate BV, 58.9% perceive psychophysical benefits and 53.3% consider
their motivation for practicing the sport as optimal. Chi-square test revealed a significant relationship between perceived
psychophysical benefits and improved social skills (P = .036). Another significant relationship was found between motivation
to practice BV and perceived performance (P = .025).
Conclusions: Practicing BV provides psychophysical benefits including improved physical fitness, increased motivation,
enhanced self-esteem, and better body composition. Moreover, a strong link was observed between higher motivation and
improved teamwork and social interactions among players, as well as contributing to the improvement of decreased stress
of daily routine.
