Predicting spontaneous exercise implementation intentions using measures of behavioural regulation

Abstract

This study determined the utility of measures of behavioural regulation in predicting spontaneous exercise implementation intentions. It was predicted that people who were intrinsically motivated to exercise would spontaneously set implementation intentions, and consequently that intrinsic motivation would predict greater variance in implementation intentions than extrinsically regulated behaviours. Participants included 162 (63 males, 99 females) Canadian University College students. Measures of spontaneous implementation intentions and the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire were completed. Standard regression analysis revealed that identified regulation was a significant predictor, but not external and introjected regulation, or intrinsic motivation. Correlational analysis revealed that identified regulation and intrinsic motivation were substantially correlated. It was suggested that intrinsic motivation may not have significantly predicted implementation intentions because there were similarities between the two measures, and thus the regression was not able to model the differential effects that identification and intrinsic motivation exerted on implementation intentions. It appears that identifying with the value of exercise and experiencing some level of enjoyment, facilitate planning for when, where, and how to exercise.