A Self-Determination Theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based intervention aimed at increasing adherence to physical activity

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a physical activity (PA) intervention program designed to enhance levels of engagement in PA. Despite robust evidence supporting the beneficial effects of PA on overall health, only about 22% of individuals engage in the recommended minimum amount of PA. Recent surveys suggested that most individuals express intentions to be physically active, though the psychological state of amotivation dismissed these struggles. In the current study, we pilot-tested a new intervention program, aimed at enhancing engagement in PA among sedentary individuals. The intervention was based on two behavioral change and motivational psychological frameworks: Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). During a 14-week intervention program, 94 sedentary Israeli college students (Mage = 24.4, SD = 1.42, Females = 89) were randomly assigned into one of three groups: SDT and ACT-based intervention, traditional intervention, and a non-treatment group. Prior to and following the intervention, participants completed the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-3 (BREQ-3) to examine motivation to exercise and the International Physical Activity Measurement IPAQ to evaluate their training frequency. Results showed that the SDT and ACT-based intervention group exhibited a significant increase in motivation to exercise between time 1 and time 2, while the other two groups (i.e., the traditional intervention program and the non-treatment group) showed insignificant differences in motivation to exercise. Furthermore, neither of the groups showed significant differences in their training frequency per week. However, those in the SDT and ACT-based groups reported an increase in activity intensity from time 1 to time 2 compared to the two other groups. Further, exercise psychology consultants and scholars can use the intervention protocol and utilize these findings to improve PA behaviors and promote health in the general population. Limitations, future directions, and implications are discussed in detail.

Empowering Movement: Enhancing Young Adults’ Physical Activity through Self-Determination Theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention

“…The intervention, titled "Running Minds", as detailed in Lev Arey et al [28], and further outlined in Appendix A, was designed to enhance self-compassion, understanding of cognitive traps, and promote behaviors that are congruent with personal values. This eight-session program, held on a college campus in Tel Aviv, chosen for its convenient access to public transportation, accommodated 10 to 12 participants per session, each lasting 90 min.…”

“…This age group was chosen due to compelling WHO data showing that 40% do not meet PA guidelines, a figure that has risen from 35% in 2018, indicating a growing need for effective interventions in this segment. While existing quantitative research, such as that by Lev Arey et al [28], has established an initial understanding, it does not comprehensively address the full spectrum of psychological and behavioral factors influencing PA adherence. Our qualitative study aims to fill this gap, delving into the personal experiences of currently inactive young adults.…”

Validity, reliability, and invariance across sex of a German version of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire

“…For this reason, several scientific tools have been developed and tested over time to ensure a rigorous assessment of people's motivation in relation to sport and exercise (Plonczynski, 2000 ). In this sense, the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ), based on the theoretical framework of SDT and developed by an exercise motivation research team from Bangor University, has become one of the most widely used instruments when the focus of research is active behavior related to health in the general population, as demonstrated by an extensive body of literature (e.g., Lev Arey et al, 2022 ; Mikkelsen et al, 2022 ; Vancampfort et al, 2023 ). The initial version of BREQ showed high levels of skewness for the “amotivation” items, which led to the exclusion of said subdomain, along with the “identified” one.…”

Person‐specific evidence has the ability to mobilize relational capacity: A four‐step grounded theory developed in people with long‐term health conditions

“…GSD is named after one of the most thoroughly developed theories on motivation, the theory of self-determination (SDT) (Deci & Ryan, 1985), which describes a continuum of motivation moving from amotivation on one end to intrinsic motivation on the other end. SDT also identifies three basic needs -autonomy, competence and relatedness-that people must fulfill to become self-determined (Lev Arey et al, 2022). The proposed goal of GSD is to enable people to develop life skills defined as "those personal, social, cognitive and physical skills which enable people to direct their lives, and to develop the capacity to live with and produce changes in their environment" (Mullen, 1985, p. 121;Nutbeam, 1986).…”