Exercise Motives and Stages of Change

Abstract

The aim was to examine how exercise motives differ across stages of change. British government employees completed questionnaires measuring exercise motives and exercise stage of change at baseline (N = 425) and at 3-month follow-up (247 of the original sample). Discriminant analysis was used to determine whether exercise motives (and age and gender) could collectively discriminate between baseline stages of change; and whether exercise motives could discriminate between those who stayed inactive, stayed active, became active or became inactive over the 3 months. Taken as a whole, and with some qualifications, the results suggest that extrinsic (specifically bodily) motives dominate during the early stages of exercise adoption, but that intrinsic (specifically enjoyment) motives are important for progression to and maintenance of actual activity. This is consistent with Deci and Ryan's (1985) self- determination theory. The implications for exercise promotion are discussed.

The role of self-determined motivation in the understanding of exercise-related behaviours, cognitions and physical self-evaluations

“…In the context of exercise adoption, the Transtheoretical Model argues that individuals move through five stages of behavioural change, starting from being physically inactive and ending up as regular exercisers. Ingledew et al (1998) found that extrinsic, especially body-related, motives were more important in the early stages of behavioural change, whereas enjoyment (an intrinsic motive) was important for progression to regular exercise patterns. However, Ingledew et al (1998) used a descriptive questionnaire which measures motives for exercise (some of which can be high or low in self-determination depending on how they are operationalized), but not the underlying motivational regulations that underpin exercise behaviour.…”

“…Ingledew et al (1998) found that extrinsic, especially body-related, motives were more important in the early stages of behavioural change, whereas enjoyment (an intrinsic motive) was important for progression to regular exercise patterns. However, Ingledew et al (1998) used a descriptive questionnaire which measures motives for exercise (some of which can be high or low in self-determination depending on how they are operationalized), but not the underlying motivational regulations that underpin exercise behaviour. In contrast, assessed the variations in four motivational regulations (intrinsic motivation, identified, introjected and external regulation) across the different stages of change.…”

“…The results have been similar to those found in other life contexts in that self-determined motivation to exercise has been associated with more positive behavioural, cognitive and affective outcomes, compared to controlling motivational regulations or amotivation. For example, in terms of self-reported behaviour, Ingledew, Markland and Medley (1998) examined the relationship between different exercise motives and the stages of behavioural change proposed by the Transtheoretical Model (Prochaska and DiClemente, 1984). In the context of exercise adoption, the Transtheoretical Model argues that individuals move through five stages of behavioural change, starting from being physically inactive and ending up as regular exercisers.…”

“…However, due to the cross-sectional nature of our study, it cannot be determined whether self-determined motivation increased and controlling motivation decreased as the exercisers progressed through the stages of change, or if the participants reached the maintenance stage because they had high self-determined motivation to start with. However, the latter explanation seems less likely since self-determined motivation is rarely very high when participants first engage in an exercise programme (Ingledew et al 1998). Either way, future research should employ longitudinal designs to examine how motivational regulations fluctuate across the different stages of change as well as to provide potential explanations for such fluctuations (e.g.…”

Exercising the Self: On the Role of Exercise, Gender and Culture in Physical-self Perceptions

“…In the mainstream sport and exercise psychology research, the most common motives/reasons utilised in questionnaires and tests are these: exercising for interest/enjoyment, competence, fitness, body-related motives such as weight control, improving body tone and overall physical attractiveness, health/health pressures, ill-health avoidance, stress management improving mood, affiliation, challenge, competition, revitalisation, and social recognition (Markland & Hardy, 1993;Silberstein, Striegel-Moore, Timko, & Rodin 1988). These various motives/reasons for exercise seem to have different importance at different stages of exercise, with motives concerning appearance and weight-control being more pertinent in the initiation-stage, and enjoyment and revitalisation being more important for progression to the maintenance of regular exercise (Ingledew, Markland, & Medley, 1998). …”