The Development of Intrinsic Motivation for Physical Activity

Abstract : Being physically active can improve a person's health and mental well being. A physically active society could reduce the nation's cost of caring for the preventable diseases associated with the sedentary lifestyles. Some social psychologists have proposed that people who are more intrinsically motivated are more likely to maintain physical activity at a level that is beneficial for their health. Having found this to be so, it is worthy of researchers' efforts to determine the constructs that will move individuals to become more intrinsically motivated to engage in regular exercise and/or physical activity. This paper will present theories and research related to exercise motivation, and develop implications for practitioners to use in the development of activity and exercise programs. The relevant theories that can be used to understand the adoption and maintenance of regular physical activity include self-determination, cognitive evaluation, self-efficacy, and flow. Through the application of the constructs of these theories within the framework of the Transtheoretical Model practitioners can help individuals to become more active. The adoption of more active lifestyles will allow our nation to have a more productive economy and our citizens to enjoy a better quality of life.