Exercise motivation and social physique anxiety in adolescents

Alvaro Sicilia, Piedad Sáenz-Alvarez, David González-Cutre, Roberto Ferriz

Research output: Indexed journal article Articlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Based on self-determination theory (SDT), the goal of this study was to analyze the relation between satisfaction of basic psychological needs, types of motivation to exercise, and social physique anxiety (SPA). Participants in the study were 398 secondary education students, aged between 12 and 19 years, who completed questionnaires that measured the variables of interest. The results of multiple mediation analysis revealed that satisfaction of the need for competence negatively predicted SPA, both directly and indirectly through the mediation of integrated, identified, and external regulations. Introjected regulation also positively predicted SPA. Gender and body mass index (BMI) affected the relationships analyzed and were also shown to predict SPA. The results of this study further our understanding of the motivational process that explains SPA in adolescents within an exercise context, showing the positive influence of perceived competence and types of self-determined motivation to reduce SPA. Copyright:

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)111-129
Number of pages19
JournalPsychologica Belgica
Volume54
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adolescence
  • Basic psychological needs
  • Exercise
  • Self-determination theory
  • Self-determined motivation

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