(1.Postdoctoral Research Station of Education,Hunan Normal University,Changsha 410081,China;2.School of Physical Education,Hunan Normal University,Changsha 410012,China) Abstract: This study aims to explore the effect of participation motivation, participation environment and persistence of square dancers on their participation behavior, so as to provide references for promoting scientific popularization and normative governance of square dance. By collecting 1 012 questionnaires of square dancers and the content included the participation behavior, participation motivation, participation environment and persistence, Of them, the participation behavior was measured by time, number and duration of exercise for square dancers, and the measurement of participation motivation, participation environment, and persistence was assessed by the simplified scale of MPAM-R, the participation environment scale and the persistence scale, respectively. The results showed that: (1) the square dancers' social motivation (P<0.01) and ability motivation (P<0.05) can positively predict their participation behavior, and persistence had a completely mediating effect in the process of participation motivation affecting their participation behavior; (2) interpersonal association (P<0.001) and natural association (P<0.001) had a significant positive effect on the persistence of square dancers, among which interpersonal association had the highest influence, with an accountable variance of 40.6%. Moreover, persistence had a partial mediating effect in the process of the influence on the participation behavior by participation environment. The conclusion indicated that: (1) interpersonal relationship in the participation environment (especially making friends and being driven by friends) would be an important factor affecting their participation behavior; (2) it is effective to promote square dancers to continuously participating in this activity by means of enhancing their sociable effect and skill level, improving interpersonal atmosphere in the course of participating in square dance for them, and creating a promising support environment both from naturally and socially. Key words: sports psychology;square dance;participation motivation;participation environment;participation behavior;persistence |