Motivation for physical activity in young adults with physical disabilities during a rehabilitation stay: a longitudinal test of self‐determination theory

Abstract

We tested a self-determination theory (SDT) process model during a 3 week physical activity rehabilitation stay among young adults with a physical disability (N = 44, Mage = 24.7, SD = 5.1). As hypothesized, perceived autonomy support positively predicted needs satisfaction at the end of the stay (r = .38, p < .01). Further, needs satisfaction was positively linked to changes in autonomous motivation for physical activity (r = .47, p < .01). Both changes in autonomous motivation and self-efficacy were associated with physical activity increases over the stay (r = .57, p < .01 and r = .47, p < .01, respectively). Bootstrapping results supported the SDT process model, indicating a support for a development toward more self-determined motivation in rehabilitation. ties (Finch, Lawton, Williams, & Sloper, 2001). Scelza, Kalpakjian, Zemper, and Tate (2005) reported that lack of motivation, lack of energy, and lack of interest were the most frequently cited barriers to exercise among individuals bs_bs_banner

Individualized funding interventions to improve health and social care outcomes for people with a disability: A mixed‐methods systematic review

“…et al, 2012). A number of more specific studies that have examined self-determination in a sample of people with a disability found similarly positive outcomes (Perreault & Vallerand, 2007;Saebu et al, 2013).…”

One-year trajectories of motivation and physical activity in persons with disabilities

“…A sample item is: "How confident are you that you can do aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming, or bicycling 3 to 4 times each week?" Responses were given on a 10-point Likert-type scale, ranging from not at all confident (1) to totally confident (10). The scale has been tested for validity in a sample with 478 subjects with chronic diseases; internal consistency was 0.83, and test-retest reliability was 0.86 (34).…”

“…Controlled motivation is derived from external sources, such as physicians, trainers or media (8), while autonomous motivation is derived from oneself across 3 basic psychological needs: autonomy, relatedness and competence (9). Recent research has shown the importance of autonomous motivation for adherence to physical activity (8), and that it is associated with increased activity in people with physical disabilities (10). It is also noteworthy that maintenance of behaviours over time requires autonomous motivation for that behaviour (11).…”

“…It is also noteworthy that maintenance of behaviours over time requires autonomous motivation for that behaviour (11). Conversely, controlled motivation is unrelated to long-term adherences and is less malleable (10).…”

The Autonomy-supportive Approach: The Key to Promoting Rehabilitation Adherence?

“…Several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in healthcare settings support this notion that is, perceived autonomy support from healthcare providers is associated with autonomous motivation, which in turn is related to rehabilitation adherence [18][19][20][21][22]. For example, in a sample of 115 post-surgery anterior cruciate ligament patients, Chan et al [18] investigated the relationship between physiotherapists' autonomy-supportive behaviors, patients' motivation for rehabilitation, and patients' post-surgery rehabilitation adherence.…”