Can Interpersonal Behavior Influence the Persistence and Adherence to Physical Exercise Practice in Adults? A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective: Motivation seems to be a fundamental indicator of long-term physical exercise adherence. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) argues that social environment plays a central role in the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, which might directly affect the quality of one's motivation. Individuals who appear to be more self-determined tend to persist longer at certain behaviors. Therefore, this body of work intends to analyze the relationship between motivational variables and behavioral outcomes in the exercise context, having as theoretical background the Self-Determination Theory.Methods: This systematic review was conducted through an electronic search on Web of Science, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO. Data such as instruments, main predictors and results were collected from studies published between 1985 and 2018. A total of 35 empirical studies were considered for a detailed analysis.Results: Results showed the relevance of autonomy support performed by exercise professionals, as well as the major contribution that these behaviors have toward the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, besides the inherent benefits of developing more autonomous regulations. According to the literature, few studies have analyzed interpersonal thwarting behavior and the way this relates to basic psychological needs' frustration. Nether less, there seems to be a negative relationship between less self-determined regulations and exercise practice.Conclusion: Despite the existence of numerous cross-sectional studies that demonstrate positive correlations between SDT and behavioral outcomes in the exercise context, longitudinal research that analyzes all six dimensions of interpersonal behaviors and their relationship with persistence and adherence to exercise proves to be crucial. However, according to this review, interventions based on SDT appear to be fundamental when it comes to promote the maintenance of a long-term exercise practice.

The bright and dark sides of motivation as predictors of enjoyment, intention, and exercise persistence

“…On the other hand, dark side motivational constructs were positively and significantly correlated with each other, and negatively with bright side constructs, enjoyment, intention, and persistence. These results have been theoretically and systematically supported in exercise settings …”

“…Even enjoyment as an isolated mediator showed a high regression score with persistence (β = 0.83 [0.80‐0.86]) but decreased its indirect effect on persistence in this model (β = 0.06 [−0.03‐0.14]) and does not account for an indirect significant effect. Moreover, despite the absence of BPN frustration and controlled motivation's significant indirect effects on persistence, it is possible to observe that perceived thwarting behavior had positive significant effects on these mediators, supporting expected sequential path interactions . This observation could be in part responsible for the lower/absence of mediating effects of enjoyment.…”

“…Teixeira and Silva 15 have revealed in exercise settings that BPN satisfaction is positive and significantly related to autonomous motivation (ie, individuals partake in the behavior because they value the activity), whereas negative and significantly associated with controlled motivation (ie, the person engages in the behavior to obtain external rewards or to avoid negative consequences such as guilt). Conversely, BPN frustration has an negative relationship with autonomous and a positive with controlled motivation, as demonstrated theoretically 3 and empirically. 15 The last part of the HMIEM explains how motivational regulations are associated with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral consequences.…”

“…In fact, motivation seems to be the most important variable explaining exercise participation. In recent years, self‐determination theory (SDT) has been used as the “go to framework” for defining the impact of motivational determinants on emotional, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes in an exercise context . In this regard, Vallerand proposed the Hierarchical Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation (HMIEM) to explain how different levels of generality—global (environment), contextual (domains in life), and situational (personal state)—are responsible for an individual's behavior.…”

“…In recent years, self-determination theory (SDT) 2 has been used as the "go to framework" for defining the impact of motivational determinants on emotional, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes in an exercise context. 3 In this regard, Vallerand 4 proposed the Hierarchical Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation (HMIEM) to explain how different levels of generalityglobal (environment), contextual (domains in life), and situational (personal state)-are responsible for an individual's behavior. According to the HMIEM sequence, social factors (eg, perceived interpersonal behaviors from exercise instructors) affect different types of motivation, depending on how basic psychological needs (BPN: autonomy, competence, and relatedness) are met.…”