Examining Relationships Between Perceived Psychological Need Satisfaction and Behavioral Regulations in Exercise

The purpose of this study was to examine the proposition that psychological need satisfaction plays a role in the motives regulating exercise behavior. Participants completed self-report instruments assessing perceived psychological need satisfaction and exercise regulation at the outset and end of a 12-week structured exercise class. Greater perceived psychological need satisfaction predicted endorsement of more self-determined exercise regulations in the structural equation modeling analysis. Change score analyses revealed that increased perceived need fulfillment was positively correlated with more self-determined exercise regulations, although this pattern was most prominent for competence and autonomy. Collectively, these findings indicate perceptions of competence and autonomy—and to a lesser extent relatedness—and represent important factors shaping exercise motivation. Continued investigation of basic psychological need fulfillment via exercise appears justified.