Abstract
ObjectivesTo: a) identify motivational profiles for exercise, using Self-Determination Theory as a theoretical framework, among a sample of parents of UK primary school children; b) explore the movement between motivational profiles over a five year period; and c) examine differences across these profiles in terms of gender, physical activity and BMI. DesignData were from the B-Proact1v cohort. Methods2555 parents of British primary school children participated across three phases when the child was aged 5–6, 8–9, and 10–11. Parents completed a multidimensional measure of motivation for exercise and wore an ActiGraph GT3X + accelerometer for five days in each phase. Latent profile and transition analyses were conducted using a three-step approach in MPlus. ResultsSix profiles were identified, comprising different combinations of motivation types. Between each timepoint, moving between profiles was more likely than remaining in the same one. People with a more autonomous profile at a previous timepoint were unlikely to move to more controlled or amotivated profiles. At all three timepoints, more autonomous profiles were associated with higher levels of MVPA and lower BMI. ConclusionsThe results show that people’s motivation for exercise can be described in coherent and consistent profiles which are made up of multiple and simultaneous types of motivation. More autonomous motivation profiles were more enduring over time, indicating that promoting more autonomous motivational profiles may be central to facilitating longer-term physical activity engagement.
Highlights
ObjectivesTo: a) identify motivational profiles for exercise, using Self-Determination Theory as a theoretical framework, among a sample of parents of UK primary school children; b) explore the movement between motivational profiles over a five year period; and c) examine differences across these profiles in terms of gender, physical activity and body mass index (BMI)
Our findings suggest that the presence of introjected regulation alongside autonomous motivation is associated with lower levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) compared to when autonomous motivation is experienced alone
From a public health perspective, these findings suggest that strategies to promote greater physical activity engagement should seek to foster more stable autonomous motivation by developing physical activity environments that support, rather than thwart, the basic psychology needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness (Ryan & Deci, 2017)
Summary
To: a) identify motivational profiles for exercise, using Self-Determination Theory as a theoretical framework, among a sample of parents of UK primary school children; b) explore the movement between motivational profiles over a five year period; and c) examine differences across these profiles in terms of gender, physical activity and BMI. Results: Six profiles were identified, comprising different combinations of motivation types. People with a more autonomous profile at a previous timepoint were unlikely to move to more controlled or amotivated profiles. More autonomous profiles were associated with higher levels of MVPA and lower BMI. Conclusions: The results show that people’s motivation for exercise can be described in coherent and consistent profiles which are made up of multiple and simultaneous types of motivation. More autonomous motivation profiles were more enduring over time, indicating that promoting more autonomous motivational profiles may be central to facilitating longer-term physical activity engagement
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