ABSTRACT
Nowadays, psychological components have attained a very notable importance in the acquisition of healthy behaviours. Therefore, this study analyses the differences between psychological variables that are related to sports practice in university students during the confinement caused by COVID-19. The study had a sample of 1239 participants (765 males and 474 females), aged 16-45 years (M = 21.44, SD = 3.94). A questionnaire, which included the Behavioural Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ), the Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale;the Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Scale;and the Degree of Sport Commitment Scale, was used. The most relevant results show significant differences (p<0.01) in favour of the male gender in almost all psychological variables except demotivation. Likewise, with regard to controlled motivation and demotivation, significant differences were found between small and large localities, with higher values in the former (p<0.05 and <0.01). The results are discussed in order to determine the differences in terms of which psychological components would allow for interventions that might be more effective in achieving regular sport practice, commitment, and adherence through the use of strategies aimed at fostering autonomous motivation in university students and counteracting the effects of controlled motivation and demotivation.