Factors influencing migrant workers’ motivation to participate in physical leisure activities in Korea

Aim: Migrant workers experience physical, mental, and social stress. Physical leisure activities are important for decreasing such stress and increasing quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing migrant workers’ motivation to participate in physical leisure activities in Korea based on the Gelberg-Andersen behavioral model. Subjects and methods: This is a descriptive correlational study, in which a structured self-report questionnaire was distributed to 124 migrant workers. Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: In this study, the average age of the participants was 35.39 ± 9.37 years. Most were separated from their families. Religious discrimination and the level of anxiety influenced motivation to participate in physical leisure activities. Furthermore, the explanatory power of the regression model was 17.5%. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop health-promoting, physical-leisure-based programs to increase migrant workers’ quality of life.