Exercise motivation: a cross-sectional analysis examining its relationships with frequency, intensity, and duration of e
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RESEARCH
Open Access
Exercise motivation: a cross-sectional analysis examining its relationships with frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise Lindsay R Duncan1*, Craig R Hall1, Philip M Wilson2, O Jenny3
Abstract Background: It is important to engage in regular physical activity in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle however a large portion of the population is insufficiently active. Understanding how different types of motivation contribute to exercise behavior is an important first step in identifying ways to increase exercise among individuals. The current study employs self-determination theory as a framework from which to examine how motivation contributes to various characteristics of exercise behavior. Methods: Regular exercisers (N = 1079; n = 468 males; n = 612 females) completed inventories which assessed the frequency, intensity, and duration with which they exercise, as well as the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire including four additional items assessing integrated regulation. Results: Bivariate correlations revealed that all three behavioral indices (frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise) were more highly correlated with more autonomous than controlling regulations. Regression analyses revealed that integrated and identified regulations predicted exercise frequency for males and females. Integrated regulation was found to be the only predictor of exercise duration across both genders. Finally, introjected regulation predicted exercise intensity for females only. Conclusions: These findings suggest that exercise regulations that vary in their degree of internalization can differentially predict characteristics of exercise behavior. Furthermore, in the motivational profile of a regular exerciser, integrated regulation appears to be an important determinant of exercise behavior. These results highlight the importance of assessing integrated regulation in exercise settings where the goal of understanding motivated behavior has important health implications.
Background Engagement in regular physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Research has shown that regular exercise is linked to the prevention of cardio-vascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis, and depression [1]. The physical activity guidelines set forth by the Canadian government recommend that adults engage in a cumulative total of sixty minutes of moderate intensity physical activity (occurring in bouts of at least 10 minutes) every day [2]. In addition to this, some research has shown that vigorous exercise can lead to health benefits above and beyond * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 School of Kinesiology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
those offered by moderate intensity exercise. For example, the use of antidiabetic, antihypertenstion, and LDLC-lowering drugs have been found to have an inverse relationship with vigorous physical activity [3]. Furthermore, in a study examining the relationships between physica
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