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Three Levels of Exercise Motivation
Author(s) -
Ingledew David K.,
Markland David,
Ferguson Eamonn
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
applied psychology: health and well‐being
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.276
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1758-0854
pISSN - 1758-0846
DOI - 10.1111/j.1758-0854.2009.01015.x
Subject(s) - psychology , promotion (chess) , social psychology , test (biology) , intrinsic motivation , citizen journalism , self determination theory , autonomy , political science , paleontology , politics , law , biology
The aim was to test a three‐level model of motivation, derived from self‐determination theory. According to the model, dispositional motives (represented by life goals) influence participatory motives (exercise participation motives), which influence regulatory motives (exercise behavioural regulations), which influence behaviour (exercise participation). The participants were 251 young adults. They completed the Aspirations Index, Exercise Motivations Inventory version 2, Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire version 2, and a quantity‐frequency measure of exercise participation. The model was tested using partial least squares latent variable modelling. Exercise participation was positively predicted by identified and intrinsic but not predicted by external or introjected behavioural regulations. Behavioural regulations were predicted by participation motives: intrinsic regulation by affiliation and challenge motives; identified regulation by health/fitness and stress management motives; introjected regulation by appearance/weight motive; external regulation by social recognition and appearance/weight motives; all positively. Participation motives were themselves predicted by corresponding life goals. The findings support the three‐level model of motivation. Health promotion programmes need to take account of individuals' participatory motives and underlying dispositional motives.