The Role of Autonomous and Controlled Motivation in Exercise Intentions of Participants in a Mass Cycling Event

Abstract

Purpose: This study used self-determination theory to examine the role of participants' autonomous and controlled motivation to exercise and to participate in a challenging mass cycling event and investigated whether the event enhanced intended and actual exercise behavior among the participants.Method: Two hundred and twenty-eight subjects, having participated in the cycling event, completed a questionnaire shortly after the event and again 4 months later. The questionnaire measured self-reported cycling and exercise activity, training in preparation of the event, motivation to participate in the event, motivation to exercise, and future exercise intentions due to the event.Results: Results showed that most participants were very active in cycling and other sports. The expected positive effect of autonomous motivation on exercise intentions and behavior could not be confirmed in our study. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the event had an enhancing effect on exercise intentions shortly after the event among participants that scored higher on controlled motivation to exercise (β = 0.15) and to participate (β = 0.15); also, participants were more satisfied with the event (β = 0.19) and had followed a preparation program before the event (β = 0.15). However, intentions and exercise behavior distinctively dropped 4 months after the event.Conclusions: Events aiming to enhance their participants' exercise behavior need to attract less active participants and need to make additional efforts to prevent relapse in intentions and exercise behavior.

Factors Influencing Physical Activity in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis

“…Indeed, the present study found that valued exercise-related outcomes were drivers for continued exercise participation amongst participants who appeared to be more regularly physically active. Consistent with SDT and previous research, more autonomous motivation rather than controlled or externally driven motivation are associated with regular exercise behaviour (22,23) . The strongest predictor of exercise maintenance is personally valued outcomes (23) .…”

Do Years of Running Experience Influence the Motivations of Amateur Marathon Athletes?

“…This study has some limitations, since the cross-sectional research did not allow causal inferences to be made among the variables studied. To conclude, in future research, gathering the data at two different times would provide a wider dataset and enhanced knowledge [53] about whether the years of experience of athletes are related to, or the extent to which they are may be related to, their participation motivations. Another interesting research line would be to analyse the differences between marathoners' male and female experiences, since previous research [18,19] has shown significant differences in relation to the motivational variables according to gender.…”

Male and Female Motivations for Participating in a Mass Cycling Race for Amateurs. The Skoda Bike Challenge Case Study

“…The cross-sectional design of the research was a limitation, since it did not allow causal inferences between the studied variables. In the future, collecting the data in two different moments would help to improve the knowledge about athletes' motives of participation in mass sports events [73]. Also, it would be worth examining the motivations for participating in mass sporting events in other sports, as this would allow comparative analyses to be carried out in the future.…”