5 | 147 Career, family, and sport participation: a simultaneous exhibition? increasingly important during the transition to adulthood, when becoming a student, professional, partner and parent and associated changes in resources made it more and more challenging to (re)start or sustain sport participation during the transition to adulthood. In the words of a participant: “I must say, once it went without saying, and I enjoyed doing it. The intrinsic motivation to practise sport that comes from the fun and pleasure it gives you. And that, as a secondary side effect so to say, it is healthy and it makes you feel fitter, that was like: whatever. It had to be fun. Now that is fundamentally different. When did you notice that shift? When it became more difficult, time-technically, to choose for sport participation. Well you see, if you’re a student, you have all the time and freedom in the world. And now the thing is that I almost force myself to do something, but not so much because I enjoy it, but rather just because... because I physically have to: it makes me feel fitter and healthier.” (Martijn) The benefit of practising sport most commonly expressed by participants in relation to the experienced major life events, was its positive contribution to their physical and mental wellbeing. These benefits were often mentioned in the same breath. However, some participants emphasised the mental benefits (e.g., relaxation, good outlet to release stress), while others underscored the physical benefits (e.g., building up condition and fitness, staying or getting in shape). This is illustrated the narratives below, as well as in other narratives, depicting changes in physical or mental resources associated with the occurrence of major life events and the beneficial role of sport participation regarding these changes (see the physical and mental resources section in paragraph 5.3.1). “For me practising sport is like doing chores, like cleaning the toilet; it just has to happen once a week to stay fit and active.” (Inge) “I really have to keep practising sport, otherwise I silt up. That is my main reason to continue, but also to keep my head straight. Especially now with my new job, which brings stress.” (Lieke) “For me yoga is sort of a gift to myself. In fact, it means that I do something all for myself, away from the hustle and bustle at home and at work.” (Moniek)
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