Motivational Correlates and Consequences of Spontaneous Action and Coping Planning Within the Context of Physical Activity

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Past research (Brickwell & Chatzisarantis, 2007) has shown that motivation can influence spontaneous action planning toward exercise. Using self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000), this study explores the motivational correlates of two measures of spontaneous planning within the context of physical activity (PA), namely action and coping planning, as well as how these two types of plans are related to PA practice. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was used and 352 adults (N= 291 women, mean age of 35.5 years), filled-in a web-based survey. FINDINGS: Results of a path analysis revealed that only identified regulation predicted AC while introjected regulation and intrinsic motivation both predicted CP. Indirect effects were tested using the bias-corrected bootstrap confidence limits. Results showed that: 1) AC mediates the relationship between identified regulation and PA frequency, 2) CP mediates the relationship between both intrinsic motivation or introjected regulation and PA frequency. DISCUSSION: Results are discussed with reference to SDT framework and the need for future research to examine the motivational consequences of spontaneous AP and CP.