Self‐determination, stage of readiness to change for exercise, and frequency of physical activity in young people

Abstract

Grounded in self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) and the transtheoretical model (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983), the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between exercise regulations varying in self-determination with stage of readiness to change for exercise and physical activity patterns in university students. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The sample consisted of 409 (158 men, 251 women) university undergraduates aged 18 Á30 years. Participants completed the Behavioural Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire-2, the visual analogue stage of change for exercise ladder, and a physical activity questionnaire. Linear discriminant function analyses revealed that men and women at the early stages were less self-determined in the regulation of their exercise behaviour than those at the later stages of change. Additionally, men and women who were more self-determined reported being more physically active over the previous 3 months. These results suggest that self-determination may have an important role to play in the adoption and maintenance of healthpromoting behaviours in young adults.

Self-regulation and physical activity in WKU employees

“…These results suggest people who engage in regular PA find PA more enjoyable, identify PA as a part of their self-concept, and value the benefits of PA. These findings have been supported in previous research (Dacey, Baltzell, & Zaichowksy, 2008;Daley & Duda, 2006). Similar effect sizes were found by Wininger and DeSena (2012) for intrinsic (ranged η 2 = .16 to η 2 = .29), integrated (η 2 = .32), and identified (η 2 = .22).…”

“…After six months of regular PA, a person has achieved the target behavior, and is in the maintenance stage. Research has shown differences in constructs such as SDT (Daley & Duda, 2006), self-efficacy for exercise , and goal setting (Gladys et al, 2008) across stages of change. It is hypothesized that individuals within a higher stage of change will have more adaptive scores across all constructs within the ESRM.…”

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“…The studies related to aspects of self-determinant theory and stages of exercise behavior change have shown that the participants in the high stages of exercise behavior change have more autonomy orientation and less control and impersonal orientations (Daley & Duda, 2006;Landry & Solmon, 2004;Rose et al, 2005). In general, they are self-determinant.…”

“…The longitudinal research of Fortier et al (2007)also showed that self-determination motive increases in the participants who exercise regularly for six months. Daley and Duda (2006)Also showed the men and women had lower self-determination in the first stages of behavior change than the participants in higher stages in the regulation of their behavior training. Moreover, the men and women who had more self-determination reported more physical activity during three last months.…”

“…One of the main shortcomings is that the understanding of people's behavioral regulations over time does not occur completely without studying the training motives based on the decisional balance and cognitive processes. Previous studies have examined the relation of some of theoretical aspects of self-determination with stages of exercise behavior change (Daley & Duda, 2006;Ingledew, Markland, & Sheppard, 2004;Landry & Solmon, 2004;Mullan, Markland, & Ingledew, 1997;Thogersen-Ntoumani & Ntoumanis, 2006). Rose et al (2005) have shown that the value of independence orientation has increased during the stages in male and female.…”