Comparison and examination of sports orientation, academic vitality and mental well-being in normal and elite students

The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing and investigating the tendency to exercise, academic vitality and mental well-being in normal and elite students. The method of the current research is a descriptive-analytical one that was conducted on a sample of 60 students (30 elite students and 30 regular students) of Lorestan University in the academic year 2008-2019, who were selected by random sampling. To collect the data, the questionnaires of Zarandieh's tendency towards sports (2003), academic vitality of Dehghanizadeh and Hossein Chari (2006) and mental well-being of Keirs and Makiramo (2003) were used. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient test, multiple regression analysis by stepwise method and independent t-groups. The results of this research showed that there is a significant difference between the tendency to exercise, academic vitality and mental well-being among elite and normal students. The results of multiple regression analysis by step-by-step method also showed that the variables of sports orientation and academic vitality together predict 25% of the variance of mental well-being. According to the results of the current research, it seems necessary to provide the necessary ground for improving and promoting the mental well-being of students, especially elite students, by formulating, planning and presenting a suitable policy.