Motivation to Participate, Exercise Affect, and Outcome Behaviors toward Physical Activity

Recently researchers have focused attention on understanding the relationship between motivation to participate and affective states associated with adherence to exercise and psychological outcomes of participation. It was hypothesized that intrinsic motivation toward an activity will heighten the associated positive affect, thereby leading to increased participation and higher perceived competence and satisfaction. The presently devised models tested the above hypothesis with 130 college students enrolled in psychology classes. They were asked to complete the Motivation for Physical Activity Measure, the Sport Enjoyment Questionnaire, and general demographic questions assessing adherence to exercise and perceived competence and satisfaction. Partial support for these path models was shown as intrinsic motivation was a predictor of affect and perceived competence and satisfaction, while extrinsic motivation predicted adherence for men only. These results provide a model to enhance the understanding of exercise-related behavior in the general population and the study of the relationship of motivation with affect toward exercise.