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

Abstract 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.