How do you motivate people to exercise?

• April 1, 2010 10:00am

Kinesiology lecturer Jenny O had recent research, “Exercise motivation: a cross-sectional analysis examining its relationships with frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise,” published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (IJBNPA).
 
While it is important to engage in regular physical activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a large portion of the population is insufficiently active. Understanding how different types of motivation contribute to exercise behavior is an important first step in identifying ways to increase exercise among individuals.

O’s current study employed self-determination theory as a framework from which to examine how motivation contributes to various characteristics of exercise behavior.  The research concluded that in the motivational profile of a regular exerciser, integrated regulation appears to be an important determinant of exercise behavior. These results highlight the importance of assessing integrated regulation in exercise settings where the goal of understanding motivated behavior has important health implications.
 
CSUEB faculty, staff and students may read the entire article online via the library.

--Kimberly Legocki