Self-determination, stage of readiness to change for exercise, and frequency of physical activity in young people

Grounded in self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) and the transtheoretical model (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983), the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between exercise regulations varying in self-determination with stage of readiness to change for exercise and physical activity patterns in university students. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The sample consisted of 409 (158 men, 251 women) university undergraduates aged 18-30 years. Participants completed the Behavioural Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire-2, the visual analogue stage of change for exercise ladder, and a physical activity questionnaire. Linear discriminant function analyses revealed that men and women at the early stages were less self-determined in the regulation of their exercise behaviour than those at the later stages of change. Additionally, men and women who were more self-determined reported being more physically active over the previous 3 months. These results suggest that self-determination may have an important role to play in the adoption and maintenance of health-promoting behaviours in young adults.