Associations Between Intrinsic Motivation, Exercise Attitudes, Physical Activity, and Mental Health in Young Adolescents: An Integrated Motivational Perspective

Masoud Arashi; Collin A. Webster; Diana Mîndrila; Joan L. Duda; Dragan Stankić; Dušan Perić; Ivana Banićević; Željko Banićević

doi:10.1080/02701367.2024.2446545

Associations Between Intrinsic Motivation, Exercise Attitudes, Physical Activity, and Mental Health in Young Adolescents: An Integrated Motivational Perspective

Masoud Arashi
, Collin A. Webster^*
, Diana Mîndrila
, Joan L. Duda
, Dragan Stankić
, Dušan Perić
, Ivana Banićević
, Željko Banićević

^*Corresponding author for this work

Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) and mental health (MH) are priorities for health promotion during early adolescence. This study explored associations between intrinsic motivation for PA, exercise attitudes, PA and MH in young adolescents. Methods: Participants were 315 students (M_age = 11.41; SD = 2.09; 45.1% girls) conveniently sampled from two private British schools in Dubai. Data were collected via a survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: As hypothesized, higher intrinsic motivation was directly associated with more favorable exercise attitudes, and attitudes was directly associated with increased PA. Unexpectedly, however, PA was not associated with better MH outcomes. A better fitting model was specified in which attitudes was directly associated with both PA and MH. Conclusions: Further research examining associations between exercise attitudes, PA, and MH in young adolescents is warranted.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	513-522
Number of pages	10
Journal	Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
Volume	96
Issue number	3
Early online date	30 Jan 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2024.2446545
Publication status	Published - 3 Jul 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 SHAPE America.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Integrated behavior change model
Self-Determination Theory
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
Theory of Planned Behavior

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Nephrology

Access to Document

10.1080/02701367.2024.2446545

Cite this

Arashi, M., Webster, C. A., Mîndrila, D., Duda, J. L., Stankić, D., Perić, D., Banićević, I., & Banićević, Ž. (2025). Associations Between Intrinsic Motivation, Exercise Attitudes, Physical Activity, and Mental Health in Young Adolescents: An Integrated Motivational Perspective. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 96(3), 513-522. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2024.2446545

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title = "Associations Between Intrinsic Motivation, Exercise Attitudes, Physical Activity, and Mental Health in Young Adolescents: An Integrated Motivational Perspective",

abstract = "Purpose: Physical activity (PA) and mental health (MH) are priorities for health promotion during early adolescence. This study explored associations between intrinsic motivation for PA, exercise attitudes, PA and MH in young adolescents. Methods: Participants were 315 students (Mage = 11.41; SD = 2.09; 45.1\% girls) conveniently sampled from two private British schools in Dubai. Data were collected via a survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: As hypothesized, higher intrinsic motivation was directly associated with more favorable exercise attitudes, and attitudes was directly associated with increased PA. Unexpectedly, however, PA was not associated with better MH outcomes. A better fitting model was specified in which attitudes was directly associated with both PA and MH. Conclusions: Further research examining associations between exercise attitudes, PA, and MH in young adolescents is warranted.",

keywords = "Integrated behavior change model, Self-Determination Theory, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Theory of Planned Behavior",

author = "Masoud Arashi and Webster, \{Collin A.\} and Diana M{\^i}ndrila and Duda, \{Joan L.\} and Dragan Stanki{\'c} and Du{\v s}an Peri{\'c} and Ivana Bani{\'c}evi{\'c} and {\v Z}eljko Bani{\'c}evi{\'c}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 SHAPE America.",

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month = jul,

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doi = "10.1080/02701367.2024.2446545",

language = "English",

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journal = "Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport",

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Arashi, M, Webster, CA, Mîndrila, D, Duda, JL, Stankić, D, Perić, D, Banićević, I & Banićević, Ž 2025, 'Associations Between Intrinsic Motivation, Exercise Attitudes, Physical Activity, and Mental Health in Young Adolescents: An Integrated Motivational Perspective', Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, vol. 96, no. 3, pp. 513-522. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2024.2446545

Associations Between Intrinsic Motivation, Exercise Attitudes, Physical Activity, and Mental Health in Young Adolescents: An Integrated Motivational Perspective. / Arashi, Masoud; Webster, Collin A.; Mîndrila, Diana et al.
In: Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Vol. 96, No. 3, 03.07.2025, p. 513-522.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Associations Between Intrinsic Motivation, Exercise Attitudes, Physical Activity, and Mental Health in Young Adolescents

T2 - An Integrated Motivational Perspective

AU - Arashi, Masoud

AU - Webster, Collin A.

AU - Mîndrila, Diana

AU - Duda, Joan L.

AU - Stankić, Dragan

AU - Perić, Dušan

AU - Banićević, Ivana

AU - Banićević, Željko

PY - 2025/7/3

Y1 - 2025/7/3

N2 - Purpose: Physical activity (PA) and mental health (MH) are priorities for health promotion during early adolescence. This study explored associations between intrinsic motivation for PA, exercise attitudes, PA and MH in young adolescents. Methods: Participants were 315 students (Mage = 11.41; SD = 2.09; 45.1% girls) conveniently sampled from two private British schools in Dubai. Data were collected via a survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: As hypothesized, higher intrinsic motivation was directly associated with more favorable exercise attitudes, and attitudes was directly associated with increased PA. Unexpectedly, however, PA was not associated with better MH outcomes. A better fitting model was specified in which attitudes was directly associated with both PA and MH. Conclusions: Further research examining associations between exercise attitudes, PA, and MH in young adolescents is warranted.

AB - Purpose: Physical activity (PA) and mental health (MH) are priorities for health promotion during early adolescence. This study explored associations between intrinsic motivation for PA, exercise attitudes, PA and MH in young adolescents. Methods: Participants were 315 students (Mage = 11.41; SD = 2.09; 45.1% girls) conveniently sampled from two private British schools in Dubai. Data were collected via a survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: As hypothesized, higher intrinsic motivation was directly associated with more favorable exercise attitudes, and attitudes was directly associated with increased PA. Unexpectedly, however, PA was not associated with better MH outcomes. A better fitting model was specified in which attitudes was directly associated with both PA and MH. Conclusions: Further research examining associations between exercise attitudes, PA, and MH in young adolescents is warranted.

KW - Integrated behavior change model

KW - Self-Determination Theory

KW - Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

KW - Theory of Planned Behavior

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DO - 10.1080/02701367.2024.2446545

M3 - Article

C2 - 39883544

AN - SCOPUS:85216690162

SN - 0270-1367

VL - 96

SP - 513

EP - 522

JO - Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport

JF - Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport

IS - 3

ER -

Associations Between Intrinsic Motivation, Exercise Attitudes, Physical Activity, and Mental Health in Young Adolescents: An Integrated Motivational Perspective

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this