Universal Journal of Psychology 2(2): 76-80, 2014 http://www.hrpub.org DOI: 10.13189/ ujp.2014.020204 Developing Sport Environment Based on Motives of Different Ethnics Vincent A. Parnabas 1,* , Julinamary Parnabas 2 1 Faculty of Sport Science and Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, 40450 Selangor, Malaysia 2 Institut Pendidikan Guru, Kampus Darulaman, Jitra, Kedah, Malaysia *Corresponding Author: vincent@salam.uitm.edu.my Copyright © 2014 Horizon Research Publishing All rights reserved. Abstract People from different cultural background show different motives for taking part in sports. Since lack of research in this area, there is still uncertainty on motives of different cultural groups in Malaysia. Malaysia consists of many ethnic groups with different cultural backgrounds, namely Malays, Chinese and Indians, maintain separate cultural identities. Knowing motives of different ethnics for participating in sports will help sports psychologists and sport industries to develop an appropriate sports environment for that ethnics. The present research will evaluate the motives that encourage different background ethnics to participate in sports, in order to develop sport environment according to each ethnic needs. The sample consisted of 231 athletes, with Malay ethnic athletes (N=101), Chinese ethnic athletes (N=73) and Indian ethnic athletes (N=57). A 30-item questionnaire called “Motives of Taking Part in Sport” was used. Six factors were derived from the questionnaire. They are socialization, high status career, green space area, music, body shape and challenges. The result showed that Malay ethnic group taking part in sport for green space environment, Chinese for body shape, while Indians for socialization. The findings of this study will be beneficial to government officials, private sectors, sports psychologists and sport industries in Malaysia in conducting sports centers, products or services to encourage different ethnics in Malaysia to take part in sports. Keywords Motives, Sport Environment, Ethnic 1. Introduction Motives can be defined as the intentions that cause a person to move, act, or to behave in a certain way (Brehm, 2004). There are many motives for participating in sports (Wann, 1997). Past studies, showed that the major motives athletes have for their spots participation are joy, for arousal, thrills and excitement, achievement, fitness, energy release, skill development, friendship, fun, and to become physically fit, healthy lifestyle (Bennett, Mousley, Kitchin, & Ali-Choudhury, 2007; Devine & Lepisto, 2005; Gill, Gross & Huddleston, 1983; White & Duda, 1994). A variety of cultural comparative studies have been conducted in the field of sports psychology. People from different cultural background showed different motives for taking part in sports. Some progress has been made in addressing this problem in developed countries, especially comparing among blacks and whites but a similar research is yet to be conducted in Malaysia. Since lack of research in this area, there is still uncertain on motives of different cultural groups in Malaysia in participating in sports. Malaysia consists of many ethnic groups with different cultural background, namely Malays, Chinese, Indians and other minority races, maintained separate cultural identities (Kahn, 1998). In Malaysia, Malay is the largest ethnic, comprised 50.4%, followed by Chinese, 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indians 7.1%, and others 7.8% (East Malaysia, especially Iban and Kadazan) (Malaysia Demographics Profile, 2012). The religions in Malaysia are Muslim (or Islam - official) covered 60.4%, followed by Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8%. Almost all the Malay ethnic are Muslims. The languages (which resemble ethnic background) are Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai (Malaysia Demographics Profile, 2012). Furthermore, in East Malaysia, exist several indigenous languages; widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan ethnic. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that we remain in the same country, but their way of living differs dramatically from the other. There are many reasons why Malaysian athletes begin to participate in sports. For example, in a research done by University Putra Malaysia, with200 student-athletes, it was found that the six important motives, out of 30 motives, given by students for sports participation were achievement, body shape, physical fitness, teamwork, learning new skills and for challenges (Sim Poh Chuen. 1994). The same study also found that friendship and strong desire to become