Predicting Objectively-Measured Exercise Participation from Motivation and Basic Needs Satisfaction

PURPOSE: Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is often used as a framework for understanding patterns of exercise participation, though research has yet to fully validate the relationships between each of the SDT constructs and exercise participation, especially when measured objectively. Objectively-assessed exercise participation has been shown to be related to intrinsic motivation and self-determined extrinsic motivation (e.g., identified regulation), but has not been consistently shown to be related to introjected regulation, external regulation, and amotivation. The first aim was to explore whether relationships exist between objectively-assessed exercise participation and both controlled extrinsic motivation (i.e., external regulation and introjected) and amotivation). In addition, the cognitive evaluation theory, a subtheory of SDT, proposes that both intrinsic motivation and self-determined extrinsic motivation are enhanced by the satisfaction of three basic needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness). In theory, environments conducive to satisfying basic needs may enhance these motivational regulations resulting in a greater likelihood for exercise participation. Thus, the second aim was to investigate the possible mediating effects of intrinsic motivation and identified regulation on the relationships between satisfaction of the basic needs and objectively-assessed exercise participation. METHODS: Participants (n=162; M = 12, F = 150) were members of a worksite exercise program offered within a school district in central Texas. Before the program, participants completed a 33-item survey comprised of eight subscales designed to measure the constructs of SDT. Exercise participation was measured via attendance. RESULTS: Bivariate correlations showed introjected regulation, external regulation, and amotivation to not be significantly associated with attendance. Path analysis revealed, however, that the net effect of external regulation on attendance was positive, while the effects of introjected regulation and amotivation remained non-significant. Of the basic needs, only autonomy was a significant predictor of attendance in this path model with no mediation of this relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies designed to appeal to external regulation and need for autonomy may enhance exercise participation in a worksite wellness program.