Changes in self‐determined motivation for exercise in people with mental illness participating in a community‐based exercise service in Australia

Abstract

Exercise has diverse benefits for physical and mental health in people with mental illness; however, it is unclear how to effectively promote exercise motivation in this group. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions utilising exercise instruction or behavioural counselling with people with mental illness to improve self-determined motivation for exercise, and physical and mental health. Participants were adults (aged 18+ years) receiving mental health services.Participants could choose from two 8-week programs comprising weekly groupbased sessions delivered by an exercise physiologist: (a) exercise instruction in a gym (GYM) or (b) behavioural counselling (MOT). Self-determined motivation was measured using the Behaviour Regulations for Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ3).Physical health indicators included waist circumference, blood pressure, leg strength (sit-to-stand test), physical capacity (six-minute walk test) and self-reported exercise.Mental health was assessed using the Kessler-6 scale of psychological distress. Most of the 95 participants chose exercise instruction (GYM = 60; MOT = 35). At baseline, participants who chose MOT had higher external motivation, body mass index, waist circumference and psychological distress, and a higher proportion had multiple physical comorbidities than those who chose GYM. More self-determined motivation was associated with meeting physical activity guidelines. Post-intervention, GYM participants had significant improvements in self-determined motivation, psychological distress and sit-to-stand test; MOT participants had significant improvements in integrated regulation, self-reported exercise and physical functioning. In conclusion, exercise instruction can improve self-determined motivation; however, more intensive behavioural counselling support may be needed to improve self-determined motivation. Counselling programs can increase exercise behaviour and may appeal more to people with poorer health and more external motivation. Findings have high ecological validity and applicability to real-world implementation of exercise interventions. To accommodate people with diverse conditions and motivations, motivational e1612 |

A randomised controlled trial of interventions to promote adoption of physical activity in adults with severe mental illness

“…Contrary to our expectations, there was also no significant difference in motivation within-or between-groups. Our previous research comparing PA counselling and supervised exercise interventions demonstrated significant improvements in self-determined motivation, particularly for the gym group (Seymour et al, 2021). These interventions were based on the interventions trialled in the current study; however, the inclusion criteria and study design may explain differences in observed outcomes.…”

“…There was no statistical evidence that any changes in behavioural compositions over the intervention period were due to group allocation, so the significant cumulative change in MVPA for the MOT group should be interpreted with caution. Our intervention parameters of 8-week duration and once/week frequency were based on our community implementation work demonstrating improvements in quality of life and self-determined motivation (Seymour et al, 2021;Whybird et al, 2020); however, this 'dose' of support is likely insufficient to facilitate significant behavioural changes. Previous interventions demonstrating MVPA increases have provided a greater number of sessions/week and for longer durations (Gomes et al, 2014;Williams et al, 2019) which may indicate minimally effective amounts of supervision are needed for behaviour change.…”

“…These interventions were based on the interventions trialled in the current study; however, the inclusion criteria and study design may explain differences in observed outcomes. Seymour et al (2021) recruited participants across primary care settings and mental health services, resulting in a sample with a range of mild to severe mental health challenges.…”

Self-determination in Physical Exercise Predicts Creative Personality of College Students: The Moderating Role of Positive Affect

“…Specifically, self-determination in physical exercise includes a sense of belonging, identification, internal integration, competence in physical exercise, and body confidence (Fang et al, 2012 ). Individuals with a high level of self-determination in physical exercise are more willing to engage voluntarily and actively (Deci and Ryan, 2004 , 2008 ; Seymour et al, 2021 ), so self-determination in physical exercise is the autonomous motivation to motivate individuals to exercise. According to self-determination theory, autonomous motivation includes identified regulation, integrated regulation, and intrinsic motivation.…”

“…In addition, from the perspective of individual cognitive development and information processing, creativity depends to some extent on the development and maturity of cranial nerves, including the cognitive processing such as information processing, control, and monitoring, and requires the coordination of the perceptual system, memory, thinking, and speech to perform the corresponding creative functions (Urban, 1991 ; Feldman, 1999 ). Self-determination enables individuals actively and frequently to participate in physical exercise (Seymour et al, 2021 ). Physical exercise changes the level of activation of brain regions such as the anterior cingulate gyrus and frontal lobe, ultimately enhancing cognitive abilities such as central executive function (Xia et al, 2018 ).…”