Latinas are at risk for not engaging in optimal exercise and are at greater risk than other ethnic groups for being overweight and suffering deleterious health consequences. The current study’s researcher utilizes pedometers, exercise logs, surveys, and participatory photography to determine exercise motivators and barriers to exercise among Latinas. The specific aims of the presented research were to identify predictors of exercise, to investigate the relationship between motivation types, self-determination and acculturation among Latinas, and employ participatory photography methodology to better understand Latina’s exercise motivators and barriers. The methodology included both quantitative and qualitative methods. Exercise motivation types (Amotivation, Extrinsic, Intrinsic) using the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 (BREQ-2), an exercise log and pedometer step counts were collected from 169 Latinas. Acculturation and demographic variables including income, education, and number of children were also collected. Each Latina met with the researcher to complete the BREQ-2, receive her exercise log and pedometers and to return her exercise logs. A sub-sample of 19 Latinas responded to semi-structured questions about exercise and photographed their exercise motivators and barriers. Results showed that the more acculturated to American culture, the fewer steps on average per day were recorded by participants. Demographic variables were not significant predictors of exercise. Motivation type was not found to predict exercise (recorded steps per day). The Intrinsic regulation subscale, ‘I value the benefits of exercise,’ of the BREQ-2 had the highest mean score (m = 3.28, SD = .83). Participants in the qualitative phase of the study defined exercise as physical activities done for the purpose of exercising involving a set of physical and emotional effects. Exercise motivators identified through qualitative semi-structured interviews were classified as either Extrinsic or Intrinsic with the most frequently commented on being the Extrinsic category. Exercise barriers that emerged from the data were classified into a) competing obligations, b) personal limitations, c) environmental limitations, and d) competing diversions. Cultural aspects influencing Latinas’ exercise also emerged from the data classified into the following categories: a) job stress, b) changing family roles, c) fast food availability, and d) transportation. The findings of this study suggest avenues for interventions that are family-centered and culturally-tailored based on education of what constitutes exercise. Exercise motivation is a complex issue for Latinas, and future researchers need to examine the mechanisms of becoming more Americanized that may adversely affect Latinas’ activity levels. The concept and measurement of Identified regulation may need to be revised before its further use among Latinas in addressing the significant health disparity attributable to sub-optimal exercise.

Fysisk inaktivitet och stillasittande är ett problem i dagens samhälle. Det här resulterar i en risk för fysisk och psykisk ohälsa. Genom att träna regelbundet hämmar det risker såsom förtidig död, kardiovaskulära sjukdomar, depression, ångest likväl fysisk och psykisk hälsa. För att en individ skall utföra fysisk aktivitet regelbundet behöver det utföras inom optimala förutsättningar som bidrar till att motivationen för fysisk aktivitet bibehålls.  Syftet med studien var att undersöka motivation till träning i relation till WHO:s rekommendationer till fysisk aktivitet. Urvalet var studenter i åldrarna 18–50 år i södra Sverige. Vi använde BREQ-2 för att undersöka om det fanns en relation med WHO:s rekommendationer för fysisk aktivitet. Det här var en kvantitativ studie som utgår från BREQ-2 som är baserad på självbestämmande teorins fem regleringar. Egna frågor baserade på WHO:s rekommendationer för fysisk aktivitet för vuxna applicerades på enkätundersökningen. Resultatet tyder på att studenter drivs främst av identifierad och integrerad reglering. Det finns skillnad mellan könen inom motivation varav största skillnaden finns inom introjicerad reglering. Av de deltagande studenterna var det endast fåtal som uppnådde WHO:s rekommendationer vilket motsvarar 54,5%. Det fanns en signifikans mellan självbestämmande i relation till att uppnå WHO:s riktlinjer. / Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are an problem in society. This results in an increased risk for physical and psychological health. Exercising on a regular basis decreases the risks such as premature death, cardiovascular diseases, depression, anxiety, and physical and psychological health. For an individual to perform physical activity regularly, it needs to be performed within optimal conditions to maintain the motivation for physical activity. The aim of the study was to examine motivation for physical activity in relation to World health organization´s (WHO’s) recommendations for physical activity. The target group is student between 18 and 50 years in southern Sweden. We used BREQ-2 to investigate whether there is a relationship with the WHO's recommendations for physical activity. This was a quantitative study based on BREQ-2 which is based on self- determination theories and five regulations. Own questions based on the WHO´s recommendations for physical activity for adults were applied to the survey.  The results indicate that students are primarily driven by identified and intrinsic regulation. There is a difference between the sex in motivation, of which the biggest difference is in introjected regulation. Of the participating students, only a few achieved the WHO's recommendations, which corresponds to 54.5%. There was a significance between self-determination in relation to achieving the WHO guidelines.

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