Psychological Need Satisfaction, Motivational regulation, and Leisure-time Physical Activity of Chinese College Athletes: Comparison Across Gender and Competition Level

Based on the self-determination theory process model, we explored the cor-relations between the latent constructs of psychological need satisfaction, motivational regulation, and leisure-time physical activity. College athletes (n=300) between 18 and 25 years of age completed a test battery on motivational aspects based on self-determination theory. Basic Psychological Need in Exercise Scale and Behavior Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 2 were used to measure psychological need satisfaction and motivational regulation in exercise context. International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measured leisure-time physical activity in different intensity. Results show that autonomous motivation and identified regulation are mediators in the association between psychological need satisfaction and leisure-time physical activity. Gender and competition levels moderated several of the paths in the model linking psychological need satisfaction with motivational regulation and lei-sure-time physical activity. Research results support the theoretical hypothesis of SDT in physical activity context, as well as demonstrating gender and competition level differences in the proposed sequential mechanisms. This study highlighted the potential value of considering moderating factors and the need to further examine the underlying mechanisms between psychological need, motivational regulation, and lei-sure-time physical activity.