Older Adults’ Physical Activity: The Integration of Autonomous Motivation and Theory of Planned Behaviour Constructs

Abstract

Objective: To examine the motivational processes underpinning Australian older adults' physical activity. Method: Adults aged 65 years and over (N = 213) completed a questionnaire assessing autonomous motivation and theory of planned behaviour variables (attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control), and a 2-week follow-up of their self-reported physical activity (n = 165). Results: In a structural equation model, effects of autonomous motivation on intention were mediated by attitudes and perceived behavioural control, but not subjective norm. The model explained 60% and 46% of the variance in intention and physical activity, respectively. Conclusion: The findings add to current knowledge of motivational processes underpinning physical activity in older adults. Current results indicate that interventions where the value of regular physical activity can be internalised by offering activities that foster feelings of competence, autonomy, and relatedness may be important to consider in increasing physical activity levels of older adults, a group at risk of sedentary behaviours.

Role of motivation in the return of blood donors: mediating roles of the socio-cognitive variables of the theory of planned behavior

“…From this perspective, each regulation is related to positive and negative motivational consequences, respectively. Autonomous motivation has been associated with long-term behavior (Arnautovska et al, 2019 ; France et al, 2017 ) and positively correlated with behavioral intention (Li & Wu, 2018 ; Williams et al, 2018 ). Research investigating the motivation of blood donors suggests that individuals are more likely to persist in this specific activity when they are internally motivated (France et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Ryan and Deci ( 2000 ) proposed another theoretical framework that predicts and explains behaviors, the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which highlights how different levels of motivation can regulate behavior. Previous studies proposed the TPB should be integrated with the SDT to advance knowledge and better predict behaviors (e.g., Arnautovska et al, 2019 ; Brooks et al, 2017 ; Li & Wu, 2018 ; Williams et al, 2018 ). France et al ( 2017 ) advocated “this integrative model is based on the premise that the processes proposed by the SDT and TPB regarding motivated behavior are complementary” (p.45).…”

Predictors of School Students’ Leisure-Time Physical Activity: An Extended Trans-Contextual Model Using Bayesian Path Analysis

“…For example, the current study did not include measures of implicit cognition and motivation with respect to school students' leisure-time physical activity participation. Given that measures of constructs such as implicit beliefs and autonomous motivation have been shown to predict behavior directly independent of intentions in adult samples (18,54,55), future tests of the extended trans-contextual model should consider incorporating measures of these constructs as predictors of leisuretime physical activity participation. This is particularly important given the lack of effects of the intentional or motivational constructs on leisure-time physical activity participation in the current study, and inclusion of implicit beliefs may assist in providing an explanation of the effects of past behavior.…”

Predictors of School Students’ Leisure-Time Physical Activity: An Extended Trans-Contextual Model Using Bayesian Path Analysis

“…For example, the current study did not include measures of implicit cognition and motivation with respect to school students' leisure-time physical activity participation. Given that measures of constructs such as implicit beliefs and autonomous motivation have been shown to predict behavior directly independent of intentions in adult samples [102,103,105,106], future tests of the extended trans-contextual model should consider incorporating measures of these constructs as predictors of leisure-time physical activity participation. This is particularly important given the lack of effects of the intentional or motivational constructs on leisure-time physical activity participation in the current study, and inclusion of implicit beliefs may assist in providing an explanation of the effects of past behavior.…”