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The role of dark‐side of motivation and intention to continue in exercise: A self‐determination theory approach
Author(s) -
Rodrigues Filipe,
Teixeira Diogo S.,
Cid Luis,
Machado Sérgio,
Monteiro Diogo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1467-9450
pISSN - 0036-5564
DOI - 10.1111/sjop.12582
Subject(s) - psychology , great rift , self determination theory , intrinsic motivation , social psychology , cognitive psychology , physics , astronomy , autonomy , political science , law
Motivation plays an important role when it comes to regular physical exercise. Hence, low levels of intentions to continue exercising in the future may ultimately lead to higher rates of exercise dropout. The first objective of the present research was to test a theoretical model considering the dark side of motivational determinants on intentions towards exercising in the future. The second objective consisted in comparing groups with different characteristics, as a way to identify individuals with weaker intention, which is believed to be an indicator of a higher dropout risk. In total, 544 (294 female; 250 male) gym exercisers aged between 18 and 58 years ( M = 35.00; SD = 11.57) partook in the present research. Participants were engaged in fitness group classes ( n = 273) or in cardio/resistance workouts ( n = 271), and their exercise experience ranged from 3 to 120 months ( M = 47.41; SD = 7.54). Results showed that the measurement and the structural model had an excellent fit. In addition, the structural model was invariant between gender, fitness activities, and exercise experience. Each group displayed different explained variance in intention to continue exercising. Overall, male, young adults and more experienced exercisers had stronger intentions towards exercising. Fitness instructors should be aware of their own thwarting behaviors, especially when interacting with female, young and less experienced exercisers, since they have weaker intentions to exercise in the future, possibly representing an increased risk of withdrawal.