Exercise Motivation Research Articles

Differences in Effort, Reward, Grit, Burnout, and Continuous Exercise Intention: Assessing the Effort-Reward Imbalance among Korean Athletes.

Although studies have shown that an imbalance between effort and reward in the workplace negatively affects an individual's physiological and mental health, few have looked at how this imbalance may affect the mental state of athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the importance of the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) in athletes by examining whether psychological variables would differ depending on the ERI. To accomplish this, 795 registered collegiate athletes were recruited. Of them, 227 and 230 responses with the ERI in the bottom and in the top 30% of the ERI scale were selected to compare groups with a high and a low ERI. Athletes completed a self-reported 64-item questionnaire (general characteristics: 5; effort: 14; rewards: 14; grit: 12; burnout: 15; and continuous exercise intention: 4 items). Data analysis included reliability and validity using the Jamovi and SPSS/AMOS software. The results showed no significant differences in effort, reward, grit, burnout, and intention to continue to exercise based on gender, weekly training frequency, and hours of training per day. There were differences in effort, reward, grit, burnout, and intention to continue exercising based on the presence of a professional league. Additionally, differences were found in effort, reward, grit, burnout, and intention to continue exercising between the low and high ERI groups. There was a clear difference between the mental state of those who were satisfied with their effort and reward, and those who were not. However, given that the two groups spent approximately the same amount of time exercising each week, the difference may have been more a function of the psychology of athletes than an actual difference in effort and reward. As our findings confirmed that the level of the ERI in athletes is related to their mental state, further research is necessary to identify and control factors that affect the ERI in athletes.

Cross-sectional associations of weekly time, social context, and motivation of exercise with mental health among workers.

Exercise is considered a strategy to promote mental health among workers. However, the optimal exercise conditions that promote mental health benefits for workers are still unclear. This study examined the cross-sectional associations of weekly exercise time duration, social context of exercise, and exercise motivation levels with the mental health among Japanese workers. A web-based cross-sectional questionnairesurvey was conducted among 18,902 workers, aged 20-59 years. The mental health variables (psychological distress, psychological stress reaction, physical stress reaction, job satisfaction, and work engagement), exercise participation (non-exercisers, exercisers), and demographic factors of all responders were measured. Weekly exercise time, social context of exercise (alone only, with others only, both alone and with others), and exercise motivation (non-regulation, external/introjected regulation, identified regulation, integrated regulation, and internal regulation) were also measured amongst exercisers. After adjusting for demographic factors, multiple regression analyses were conducted. Exercisers had significantly lower psychological distress, lower psychological and physical stress reactions, higher job satisfaction, and higher work engagement than non-exercisers. Among exercisers, while weekly exercise time duration and social context of exercise were not clearly and robustly associated with mental health variables, respondents with intrinsic regulation had significantly lower psychological distress, lower psychological and physical stress reaction, higher job satisfaction, and higher work engagement than those with lower self-determined motivations. This study found that more self-determined exercise motivation is closely associated with advantageous mental health variables, than the duration or the social context of exercise among Japanese workers.

Technology Usage, Physical Activity, and Motivation in Patients With Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation.

The cross-sectional study enrolled 231 patients with heart failure (n = 115; 60.87% were men; mean age, 74.34 ± 12.70 years) and heart transplantation (n = 116; 72.41% were men; mean age, 56.85 ± 11.87 years) who self-reported their technology usage, physical activity, and source of motivation for exercise. Patients with heart failure were significantly older (P = .0001) than patients with heart transplantation. Physical activity levels in patients with heart failure decreased as the New York Heart Association classification increased. Patients with heart failure reported significantly lower physical activity than patients with heart transplantation (P = .0008). Smartphones were the most widely used electronic device to access the Internet in both groups. Patients with heart transplantation seemed to use more than one device to access the Internet. In both groups, patients reporting more technology usage also reported higher levels of physical activity. Patients who accessed the Internet daily reported lower levels of physical activity. Whereas patients with heart failure identified encouragement by family members as a source of motivation for exercise, patients with heart transplantation reported that they were likely to exercise if motivated by their healthcare provider. Patients with heart failure and heart transplantation have unique technological and motivational needs that need consideration for mobile health-driven interventions.

Investigation of Change Seeking and Recreational Exercise Motivation Levels of Sports High School Students

Araştırmanın amacı, Spor Lisesi’nde öğrenim gören öğrencilerin değişiklik arayışları ve rekreasyonel egzersiz motivasyon düzeylerinin incelenmesidir. Araştırma yöntemi olarak ilişkisel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubu, Elazığ Spor Lisesi’nde eğitim görmekte olan ve çalışmaya gönüllü olarak katılan 90 (%64,7)’ı erkek, 49 (%35,3)‘u kadın 139 spor lisesi öğrencisi oluşturmuştur. Çalışmada veri toplama aracı olarak araştırmacı tarafından hazırlanan kişisel bilgi formu, Steenkamp ve Baumgartner (1995) tarafından geliştirilmiş, Yıldırım (2018) tarafından Türkçe’ ye uyarlanmış, Değişiklik Arayışı Ölçeği, Rogers ve Morris (2003) tarafından geliştirilmiş Gürbüz ve diğerleri (2006) tarafından Türkçe’ ye uyarlanmış REMM- Egzersiz Motivasyonu Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde SPSS 24 veri analiz programı kullanılmıştır. Verilerin normal dağılım gösterip göstermediğini tespit etmek amacıyla çarpıklık ve basıklık değerlerine bakılmıştır. Veriler normal şekilde dağılıma sahip olduğu tespit edilmiş ve değişken grupları arasında farkın olup olmadığını tespit etmek için; ikili gruplar arasında bağımsız örneklemt testi, ikiden fazla gruplu değişkenlerde tek yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA) kullanılmıştır. Ölçekler arasındaki ilişkiyi ortaya koymak için pearson korelasyon analizi yapılmıştır. Devamında bağımlı değişkenin bağımsız değişken üzerindeki etkisini ortaya koymak için, basit düzeyli doğrusal regresyon analizi yapılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, çalışmaya katılan öğrencilerinin Değişiklik Arayış düzeyleri arttıkça, rekreasyonel egzersiz motivasyon düzeylerin de olumlu etkilediği görülmüştür.

One approach does not fit all settings: Exploring the effects of natural and built environments on running pleasantness across places

Running is one of the most frequently practiced exercises worldwide. Perceived pleasantness of running contributes to exercise motivation and thereby can promote running behaviours. However, the associations between environmental factors and running experience have been largely overlooked. This study adopts a public participation GIS approach to collect the mapped point features (N = 941) and assess running pleasantness from 222 runners who resided in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. The results of a global regression model indicated that nature exposure (including eye-level greenness, top-down greenness, and blue space availability) and housing price were positively related to running pleasantness. Intersection density, traffic noise, and population density were negatively associated with running pleasantness. The spatial heterogeneity of these associations across the study area was revealed by adopting a local regression (MGWR) approach. Positive environmental attributes (e.g. blue space availability) increase running pleasantness more effectively when such attributes are more abundant, while negative attributes (e.g. traffic noise) strongly affect running pleasantness in settings where such environmental features are relatively rare. Given that the spatially-varying and scale-varying relationships between running pleasantness and environmental variables were observed across the study area, our findings provide evidence-based knowledge for planners and related policymakers, which suggests that utilizing a single approach without targeting specific settings is unwise to promote running exercise. Activity-based locations tend to have various environmental characteristics, the exposure of which needs to be adjusted uniquely and separately. Therefore, location-targeted interventions would be more effective in promoting running exercise and other physical activities than blanket approaches.

Interpersonal Behavior, Basic Psychological Needs, Motivation, Eating Behavior, and Body Image in Gym/Fitness Exercisers: A Systematic Review

Background: Body image seems to be a determining factor in the behavior and satisfaction of the basic psychological needs of exercise practitioners in gyms and fitness centers, and may influence motivation, interpersonal behavior, and eating behavior. This review aims to examine possible patterns between the variables under study in a gym/fitness context, specifically considering if body image perception has a determinant factor. Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Psycnet were consulted and only data published between 2007 and 2021 were considered in the present review. After an initial search of 1373 records, a total of 6 were considered eligible for a detailed analysis after checking for the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: There is a positive relationship between body image dissatisfaction and less self-determined forms of motivation, as well as the adoption of less healthy eating behaviors. Younger participants have higher levels of body image dissatisfaction and unhealthy eating behaviors. Conclusions: Body image dissatisfaction leads to less self-determined forms of motivation for exercise in the context of gyms and fitness centers. On the other hand, a negative perception of body image can also lead to sustained patterns of less regulated forms of exercise and less healthy eating behaviors.

Sports Volunteer Involvement in Strategies to Increase Sports Community Participation: Systematic Review

This study aims to analyze the involvement of sports volunteers in strategies to increase community participation in sports. This type of research is a Systematic Review. Article searches were carried out using a comprehensive strategy on research journal databases such as Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, and Pubmed. The keywords used are sports volunteers, sports participation, exercise motivation, and physical exercise. The inclusion criteria were international journals published in the last 8 years (starting in 2023) and articles discussing sports volunteers, sports participation, physical exercise, and motivation. Furthermore, the exclusion criteria are articles published in journals that are published in disreputable journals. A total of 4.571 articles from the Web of Science, Pubmed, Scopus, and Embase databases were identified. A further 10 articles that met all inclusion requirements or at least some of them were selected for this systematic review. For standard opera-tionalization, this study follow the Preferred ReportingIItems for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The results of the review show that the important role of sports volunteers is in increasing community participation to actively exercise. Volunteers have the potential to increase motivation so they are able to collaborate in sporting events and increase community participation in getting involved in sporting events. Furthermore, Sports volunteers are useful for sports clubs to be able to develop strategies for volunteer involvement in each sport. By considering the potential of sports volunteers, this can also increase community involvement in sports according to the sports they are interested in. Keywords: voluntary sports, sports, community participation in sports

Is the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire a Valid Measure in Older People?

Despite the widely recognized benefits of physical activity for preventing physical and cognitive decline during aging, global estimates indicate that most older adults do not achieve the recommended amount of physical activity due to a lack of motivation. The current research examined the validity and psychometric properties of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3) among older adults. Based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the BREQ-3 stands out as one of the most extensively utilized tools among exercise motivation studies. A sample of older adults (N = 383; M age = 73.2 years, SD age = 7.2) completed the BREQ-3 and the Godin-Shepard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (GSLTPAQ). Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the six-factor structure postulated by SDT, showing good fit indices (CFI= 0.95; RMSEA = 0.05; SRMR = 0.04) and supporting the full measurement invariance of the scale across sex and age groups (65 to 74 years; over 75 years). The construct and criterion validity of the BREQ-3 was upheld through the latent correlations between its subscales and their correlations with the GSLTPAQ. We demonstrated for the first time the effectiveness of the BREQ-3 in assessing all forms of behavioral regulation proposed by SDT in older adults, suggesting that older adults similarly interpreted the items across sex and age groups.

The Relationship Between Exercise Motivation of Children Participating in Recreational Exercise and Attitudes of Parents Toward Extracurricullar Sports Activities

Bu araştırmada rekreasyonel egzersize katılan çocukların egzersiz motivasyonu ile ebeveynlerinin ders dışı sportif etkinliklere yönelik tutumu incelenmiştir. Buna yönelik olarak bu araştırmanın üç amacı bulunmaktadır. Birincisi rekreasyonel egzersizlere katılan çocukların egzersiz motivasyonu ile ebeveynlerin ders dışı sportif etkinliklere yönelik tutumu arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesidir. Ayrıca rekreasyonel egzersize katılan çocukların egzersiz motivasyonu ve ebeveynlerinin ders dışı sportif etkinliklere yönelik tutumlarının bazı demografik değişkenlere göre farklılıklarının incelemesi de araştırmanın amaçları arasında yer almaktadır. Araştırma grubunu Muğla’nın Menteşe ilçesindeki spor kulüplerinde rekreasyonel egzersizlere katılan ve araştırmaya gönüllü olarak katılmayı kabul eden 245 çocuk sporcu ve onların ebeveynleri oluşturmuştur. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak Rekreasyonel Egzersiz Motivasyon Ölçeği Çocuk Sporcular İçin: Kısa Form (Dinç ve Yavaş Tez, 2019) ve Ders Dışı Sportif Etkinliklere Yönelik Ebeveyn Tutum Ölçeği (Yılmaz ve Güven, 2015) kullanılmıştır. Araştırma anket yoluyla çevrim içi ve yüz yüze toplanmıştır. Araştırmada nicel araştırma yönteminden korelasyonel desen kullanılmıştır. Veri analizinde, normallik testleri uygulanmış olup değişkenler arası ilişkinin incelenmesi için Pearson Korelasyon testi ve demografik bilgilerin karşılaştırılması için bağımsız gruplarda t test ve tek yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA) uygulanmıştır. Araştırmanın sonucunda rekreasyonel egzersize katılan çocukların egzersiz motivasyon düzeyleri ile ebeveynlerinin ders dışı sportif etkinliklere yönelik tutum düzeyi arasında olumlu yönde ilişki olduğu görülmektedir. Rekreasyonel egzersizlere katılan çocukların bulgularına göre 11-14 yaş arası ve tenis branşıyla ilgilenen çocukların egzersiz motivasyon düzeyi daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Ebeveynlerin ders dışı etkinliklere yönelik tutumu bulgularına göre; kadın velilerin sosyal destek alt boyutunda, memur olan velilerin kişisel gelişim ve sosyal destek alt boyutunda, tek çocuğa sahip olan velilerin akademik algı ve sosyal destek alt boyutunda, spor yapan velilerin kişisel gelişim ve sosyal destek alt boyutunda, aylık aile geliri 10000 TL ve üstü olan velilerin kişisel gelişim ve sosyal destek alt boyutunda diğer değişkenlere göre tutum düzeylerinin daha yüksek olduğu görülmektedir.

A - 166 Predictors of Intention to Participate in Programmed Exercise for Postconcussion Recovery.

Programmed exercise has been proposed for postconcussion recovery, but willingness to engage in such programs has not been explored. This study investigated sociocognitive factors from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and their relationship to exercise intention for postconcussion recovery (intention). Four hundred and fifty-nine adults completed an online survey (Age = 18-72years, 34% concussion history). All participants received information about mTBI, postconcussion symptoms, and programmed exercise. The measures assessed TPB constructs including intention, and evaluated program design features that could affect engagement (e.g., session frequency). Structured equation modelling found that intention was significantly predicted (p < 0.05) by subjective norms (strongest predictor) and perceived behavioral control (weaker predictor). Attitudes did not significantly predict intention. The model accounted for approximately half of the variance in exercise intention (R2 = 0.506). The addition of moderators (habitual exercise, concussion history) did not have any effect. Key program design features were personalization and supervision. People's intention to undertake programmed exercise for postconcussion recovery is shaped by individual psychological factors, especially subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. This could be considered in the program design (e.g., building program connections with significant others; fostering a sense of control through personalization/session timetabling). Further research is needed to establish the effect of such additions on engagement with programmed exercise for postconcussion recovery.

Be positive? The interplay of Instagram influencers’ body type and favorable user comments on young women’s perceptions, affective well-being, and exercise intentions.

Be positive? The interplay of Instagram influencers’ body type and favorable user comments on young women’s perceptions, affective well-being, and exercise intentions.

Mindfulness, Physical Activity and Sports Participation: Validity Evidence of the Lithuanian Translation of the State Mindfulness Scale for Physical Activity 2 in Physically Active Young Adults.

The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Lithuanian translation of State Mindfulness in Physical Activity (SMS-PA-2) in a sample of physically active students. A total sample of 539 students from universities and colleges (50.3% men; mean age 23.3 ± 7.2 years) were asked to provide demographical data, report physical activity (PA) and PA habits and fill in measures of trait awareness, autonomous motivation in physical activity, trait body appreciation, trait body functionality appreciation and disordered eating attitudes and behaviours and self-esteem via an online anonymous survey. Students also provided information about their participation in organized team sports, organized individual sports, recreational sports and home exercise. Results. The SMS-PA-2 replicated the original four-factor structure, with good internal consistency (except for the Accepting Mind subscale). Invariance analyses across sex groups revealed an acceptable fit of the configural, metric and scalar models. However, in the multi-group analysis, metric invariance and scalar invariance were not confirmed. The SMS-PA-2 was positively associated with leisure-time PA, PA habits, more self-determined motivation for exercise, trait awareness, trait body appreciation, trait body functionality appreciation and self-esteem. A negative association was observed between the SMS-PA-2 and disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. Home exercisers and students engaged in team sports demonstrated lower levels of state mindfulness in PA than those engaged in organized individual and recreational sports. The Lithuanian version of the SMS-PA-2 is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring state mindfulness in PA. This instrument is recommended for researchers who aim to investigate the role of state mindfulness in the PA in Lithuanian-language-speaking samples of young adults. Future studies should explore the Lithuanian version of the SMS-PA-2 by asking participants to fill questionnaires in immediately after the PA session, and measurement invariance between sexes should be further tested.

How Do Compulsory Volunteer Experiences at Sporting Events Help Improve Sport Participation and Life Satisfaction?

Education programs in many countries include voluntary experiences that have been made compulsory requirements. However, the positive effect of this has not yet been identified in the field of leisure. This study, therefore, investigated how compulsory volunteer experiences affect volunteers’ future behavioral intention and well-being. Specifically, we examined the effect of compulsory volunteers’ nostalgia on exercise motivation, extraversion, sport participation intention, and life satisfaction based on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. A total of 605 responses were collected from university students who had compulsory volunteer experiences at sport events. Results showed that nostalgia positively affected exercise motivation and extraversion; exercise motivation had a positive effect on extraversion, life satisfaction, and sport participation intention. In addition, extraversion positively affected life satisfaction and sport participation intention. The findings of this study contribute to identifying the role of compulsory volunteer experience and understanding its impact on individuals’ future behavior and well-being.

Exercise Intention and its Associated Factors Among Persons Post-Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study.

To investigate the level of exercise intention and its associated factors among persons post-stroke using the Theory of Planned Behavior. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 333 participants admitted to the neurology units of a tertiary care hospital in China with a confirmed diagnosis of stroke were recruited. A self-administered instrument based on the Theory of Planned Behavior was used to determine the exercise intention and its associated factors among persons post-stroke. The results revealed that only 128 participants had exercise intention after discharge with a prevalence of 38.4%. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that monthly income, living situation, subjective norms, attitude, and perceived behavioral control were significant predictors of exercise intention of persons post-stroke. Perceived behavioral control and living situation were the most relevant factors of exercise intention. The level of exercise intention among persons post-stroke was found to be low. Perceived behavioral control and living situation were particularly important and contributed to exercise intention. Healthcare professionals' adequate guidance on exercise should be provided, with a focus on educating both patients and their family members, especially spouses, to promote exercise intention in persons post-stroke.

Nörodejeneratif Hastalıklarda Rehabilitasyonun Psikososyal Yönleri ve Yaklaşım Alanları

Psychosocial health is a concept included in definition of health by World Health Organization and corresponds to state of emotional and social well-being. In the context of neurological disorder, psychosocial health refers to social reintegration and psychological adjustment. Studies reporting that neurological diseases are associated with negative psychosocial health outcomes such as a decrease in the quality of life, a decrease in ability to establish and maintain social relationships, and an increase in high levels of depression, stress and anxiety have increased in recent years. Therefore, it is important to consider programs and interventions that can improve the psychosocial health of people with neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, it is not clear which psychosocial approaches can produce definitively positive results. The aim of this study is to examine how being an individual with Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's, which are the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the clinic, affects psychosocial health in the rehabilitation process and the existing evidence-based psychosocial approaches. For this purpose, a descriptive review was prepared by scanning English and Turkish articles with keywords on psychotherapeutic, psychosocial and mindfulness-based interventions and stress management, published in the determined databases in the last 10 years. Studies have shown that psychosocial approaches such as interventions for acquisition of social integration and adaptive coping strategies, cognitive and social behavioral therapy methods, concentration and movement-based mind-body exercises are effective in rehabilitation of neurodegenerative diseases. These approaches were reported to have benefits in reducing anxiety, depression and fatigue, improving sleep quality and quality of life, relationships, employment, level of participation, motivation and self-efficacy in exercise and physical activity, improving physical functions, facilitating difficult and personal experiences and adaptation to new life in rehabilitation processes and more evidence-based studies are needed.

Increasing motivation in social exercise games: personalising gamification elements to player type

ABSTRACT Fun and social affiliation are good predictors of long-term intention to use game-based interventions including those for motivating physical activity, yet current player matching algorithms are poor at facilitating social connectedness. In this paper, we report on the results of a study investigating how different player traits are associated with interest in social features of an exercise game for improving player experience through better player matching using common and complementary characteristics. Twelve conceptual scenarios were illustrated using storyboards and data was collected from 196 respondents who rated their attitudes and preferences towards gamification elements. Correlational results showed that all scenarios, except for cutting corners, were perceived as persuasive, enjoyable, engaging and are likely to increase future exercise intention for players who score high on Philanthropist- and Socialiser-oriented traits. Results also showed that many players favour the altruistic donation feature. Furthermore, qualitative results underscore that it is the player's partner that matters more than the players’ personalities. We conclude with practical recommendations for designing more personalised exercise games that can include more socially engaging game mechanics in the future.

Online physiotherapy for people with axial spondyloarthritis: quantitative and qualitative data from a cohort study

Life-long exercise is essential in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) management; however, long-term adherence is challenging. Online exercise programmes are an alternative to face-to-face physiotherapy. (1) To measure adherence to a 12-month, individualised, online physiotherapy programme for people with axSpA, and investigate the effects on disease activity, spinal mobility, work ability, quality of life and function. (2) To investigate associations between programme adherence and outcomes. (3) To explore participants’ views of the programme and factors affecting adherence. Participants were ‘non-exercisers’ recruited from rheumatology outpatient services. Adherence was measured using online diary entries. Outcomes included the BATH indices, health status (EQ5D), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQOL), exercise capacity (6MWT), Work, Productivity and Activity Impairment in AS (WPAI), Exercise Attitude Questionnaire (EAQ) and Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 (EMI-2) at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Interviews determined views on the intervention and factors affecting adherence. Fifty participants were recruited. Over the 52-week intervention, adherence (five times/week) ranged from 19% (± 30%) to 44% (± 35%). Significant improvements were found in disease activity (BASDAI), spinal mobility (BASMI), 6MWT, AsQoL and EQ5D-VAS at 6 and 12 months. There were no associations between adherence and baseline variables or demographics. Interviews suggested support from others, routine, and feeling the benefit positively affected adherence. Conversely, lack of motivation, life events and symptoms negatively affected adherence. A 12-month online physiotherapy programme significantly improved symptoms in people with axSpA who were not regular exercisers. Adherence reduced over the intervention period. Online exercise programmes may benefit people with axSpA; however, strategies to improve adherence are required.

Analysis of Exercise Intensity Preferences, Tolerance, Competence, and Their Implications for Behavioral Intentions in Fitness Settings.

This study aims to comprehensively investigate the interrelationships among exercise intensity preference, tolerance, competence satisfaction, competence frustration, and exercise intentions within the fitness domain. The research involved 114 participants aged 18 to 59 years (M = 33.23; SD = 10.542), with an average height of 166.02 cm (SD = 15.856) and weight of 68.02 kg (SD = 13.658). The path analysis revealed positive correlations among constructs, except for the link between exercise intensity tolerance and competence satisfaction. Notably, exercise intensity preference positively related to competence satisfaction (β = 0.20, CI90% = 0.12, 0.40), while both preference and tolerance were negatively linked to competence frustration (preference: β = -0.27, CI90% = -0.44, 0.03; tolerance: β = -0.17, CI90% = -0.03, 0.24). Competence satisfaction (β = 0.37, CI90% = 0.13, 0.34) and competence frustration (β = -0.29, CI90% = -0.48, -0.09) significantly influenced exercise intentions. An indirect effect existed between exercise intensity preference and intentions (β = 0.11, CI90% = 0.03, 0.21), contrasting with the lack of such effect for intensity tolerance (β = 0.05, CI90% = -0.01, 0.14). Intentions explained 16% of the variance. In conclusion, this study underscores the intricate connections between exercise intensity traits and intentions, shedding light on factors influencing individuals' exercise persistence.

Results of an Inpatient Preventive Health Care Program to Improve Quality of Life, Psychosocial Health, and Work Ability in Austria.

Objective: The Austrian Federal Pension Insurance (PVA) developed a preventive inpatient health program, "Gesundheitsvorsorge-Aktiv (GVA)," for patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Individualized modular interventions and therapeutical measures (movement optimization, movement motivation, and mental health) are designed to improve occupational participation by influencing lifestyle factors and health-related quality of life. The study aimed to evaluate the new prevention-oriented and more personalized inpatient health program GVA. Methods: Patients underwent a standard inpatient health program, with emphasis on exercise management, exercise motivation, or psychological aspects. Submodule-dependent outcomes were assessed in patients (n = 330) at the start, end of treatment, and 6months thereafter. Quality of Life (EQ-5D-5L), psychosocial aspects of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-D), and Work Ability Index (WAI) were queried. Results: The results consistently showed positive short and long-term effects. The subjective assessments of current work ability improved while the impairment of work performance was reduced. Positive changes in the psychosocial sphere were observed, alongside improvements in the health-related quality of life. Patients in the exercise optimization module performed better in all respects. Conclusion: In summary, GVA represents a valuable preventive health measure that leads to a holistic increase in well-being and can also ensure the maintenance of the ability to work.

The behavioural regulation in exercise questionnaire (BREQ): psychometric properties and associations with physical activity outcomes in a Norwegian sample of physically active adults

ABSTRACT We investigate the factor structure and psychometric properties of different versions of the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ), which measures exercise motivation, and explore the association with physical activity (PA) outcomes, in a Norwegian sample of physically active adults. The sample consisted of N = 1198, 68.9% men, mean age 49.1 (SD = 11.4) using a cross-sectional design. We analysed several BREQ versions with confirmatory factor analysis to retain the one with the best model fit: The 15-item BREQ, 19-item BREQ-2, 19-item BREQ with integrated regulation, 18-item BREQ-3, and 24-item BREQ-3. An 18-item BREQ-2 with five factors (external, introjected, identified, and intrinsic regulation, and amotivation) showed excellent model fit (χ 2 = 493.848; df = 125; RMSEA = .050; 90% CI [0.045-0.054]; CFI = .975; TLI = .969; SRMR = .041), with the item “I get restless if I don’t exercise regularly” removed. Configural, metric, scalar, and strict measurement invariance was supported. Intrinsic motivation was associated with the PA index (PA-I), PA frequency, duration, and intensity, and estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF). Identified regulation was associated with PA-I, PA frequency and eCRF, and introjected regulation with PA-I and intensity. External regulation was negatively related to PA frequency and eCRF, while amotivation was unrelated to all outcomes. The results support the factorial validity of the 18-item BREQ-2. The poor model fit found for other BREQ versions warrants additional studies to investigate the psychometric properties in physically active adult samples. Autonomous motivation factors were most important for PA outcomes.