Building upon Deci and Ryan's (1985, 1991) self-determination theory as well as previous empirical work on motivation, the present study was designed to develop a multifaceted 31-item Exercise Motivation Scale (EMS). A series of pilot studies were first conducted in order to generate the 31 scale items. The EMS was then administered to male and female college students (N=592) who participated in various exercise activity classes offered through university physical activity programs. Using structural equation modeling methodology, evidence for a robust factor structure, subscale reliabilities, and convergent and discriminant validity was sought for the proposed eight facets of the exercise motivation construct. These facets included amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, integrated regulation, intrinsic motivation to learn, intrinsic motivation to accomplish things, and intrinsic motivation to experience sensation. Results provided adequate evidence for the a priori hypothesized EMS factor structure, and acceptable subscale reliability estimates. Further analyses on the EMS structural relationships revealed a simplex pattern of the self-determination continuum underlying the various motivational orientations assessed by the EMS. Finally, selected antecedents and consequences of exercise motivation showed that the EMS facets had nomological validity and depicted differential relationships with the various antecedents and consequences examined. These results provided initial empirical support for the applicability of self-determination theory in the context of exercise, and suggested a multifaceted approach to the conceptualization of exercise motivation. / Graduation date: 1996

There is no abstract available for this dissertation.

This study examined the reliability and the validity of the Exercise Suitability Scale (ESS). The ESS was a psychometric instrument developed to measure the suitability of four different forms of exercise (aerobics, bicycling, jogging, and swimming) for different individuals. Aspects of Exercise Suitability included in the ESS were ease, satisfaction, enjoyableness, fatigue, interest, convenience, comfort, safety, affordability, and time-involvement. Background information relating to the development of the ESS as well as methods and results of testing the instrument for reliability and validity were included in this study. Data from a student population were used for estimating the reliability and validity of the ESS. Reliability testing included computing inter-item and item-to-total correlation coefficients, Cronbach's alpha, and internal consistency coefficients (theta and omega) derived from factor analytic techniques. Several types of validity were assessed: content validity, criterion-related validity, and construct validity. Criterion-related validity was estimated by comparing scores on the ESS with information about participation in exercise. Multiple regression was also used to assess criterion-related validity. Principal components analysis was used to examine the construct and content validity of the ESS. Construct validity was also estimated by correlating ESS scale scores with a parallel instrumentation approach, a Q-Sort. Satisfactory reliability indices were obtained for all four ESS exercise scales. Criterion-related validity indices were also adequate. Factor analysis provided some evidence of content validity of the ESS, but provided little support for the construct validity of the ESS. Construct validity was supported, however by the convergence approach.

Graduation date: 2002

Not available / text

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic exercise on the frequency and intensity of positive and negative affect in Chinese students and to examine the effects of chronic exercise on indicators of fatigue and health. No differences in maximal oxygen uptake between groups or across time were observed. Significantly higher heart rates were noted as a function of participation in the exercise program. Positive affect increased for the male exercise group from Pre-training to Post-training while the female exercise group did not significantly increase over time periods. Positive affect of the control group remained stable throughout. Negative affect in males and females in the control group did not change over time. In the exercise group the females' negative affect decreased from Pre-training to Post-training while the males did not significantly decrease from Pre-training to Post-training. The men and women in the exercise group reported significantly greater daily indicators of fatigue than the control group of subjects. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Twenty-seven swimmers, twenty-three aerobic runners, and twenty-two distance runners were tested on measures of affect and four creative thinking tests before and after an exercise session which approximated their normal work-out. Twenty-two sedentary control subjects watched a National Geographic videotape instead of exercising. Pre-test findings indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between groups. There was no evidence of post-exercise enhancement of demonstrated creative thinking following a 30 minute post-exercise pause, nor did exercisers perform better than controls on the creativity tests. The obtained results conflict with popular notions and previous research. However, exercisers did perceive themselves as significantly more exercise. The results suggest that exercisers believe their workouts enhance creative thinking when in fact they do not. / Department of Psychological Science

Prior research involving self-efficacy, hardiness, and the stages of exercise behavior change has been limited. This study attempted to determine if differences existed in self-efficacy for exercise, hardiness, and the components of hardiness (control, commitment, and challenge) in individuals at the preparation, action, and maintenance stages of exercise behavior change. Stages of Exercise Behavior Change, Exercise Self-Efficacy, and the Personal Views Survey were used to assess the individuals' stage of exercise behavior, self-efficacy for exercise, hardiness and the components of hardiness levels. The researcher found significant differences in self-efficacy across the three stages of exercise behavior. Specifically, individuals in the preparation, or third stage of change, had significantly lower levels of self-efficacy than those in the action and maintenance stages. The researcher found no significant differences in hardiness, or the components of hardiness, across the preparation, action, and maintenance stages of exercise behavior change. / School of Physical Education

Despite the compelling evidence that physical activity, especially regular physical activity plays a key role in enhancing health and well-being, many people remain physically inactive. To promote physical activity among the general adult population, identifying possible correlates is essential. In this regard, self-determination theory (SDT) with its motivational perspective may provide useful insight. This research examined the collective effect of the sub-theories of SDT (causality orientations theory, basic psychological needs theory, and organismic integration theory) on physical activity behavior explanation among Chinese adults. Given the lack of a measure for causality orientations in the context of physical activity behavior, an attempt was firstly made to develop and validate a psychometrically sound tool, namely the causality orientations scale for physical activity (COS-PA). The COS-PA was developed and validated in multiple phases. First, a scenario/item pool was created from multiple sources. Second, the pool was subjected to face validity, content validity, clarity, readability and comprehensibility appraisal. Adjustments were then made to finalize the initial scale. Third, the factorial, convergent and discriminant validity of the initial COS-PA were assessed via a series of exploratory factor analyses (EFAs), and correlated-trait, correlated-uniqueness analysis in the multi-trait, multi-method approach with two independent samples. The nomological validity of the scale was assessed by correlation analysis with theoretically linked constructs. In addition, the potential effect of social desirability bias of participants’ response to the COS-PA was checked. Fourth, the COS-PA’s reliability was evaluated using multiple methods, including Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, composite reliability and test-retest reliability. Subsequently, the proposed SDT process model (established based on the tenet of SDT and previous findings) was examined for physical activity explanation in an independent sample. Overall, the COS-PA exhibited sufficient validity and reliability in the multi-phasic tests. The proposed SDT process model, describing a motivational sequence whereby causality orientations and perceived autonomy support independently explain basic psychological needs satisfaction and behavioral regulation, which in turn explains PA behavior was partially supported. Moreover, potential indirect effects in the SDT model were examined. Although scale validation is an on-going process, these findings provide evidence for the COS-PA’s adequate psychometric properties and value for future use. Furthermore, the findings lead to a deeper understanding of the explanatory efficacy of the macro-SDT framework (i.e. the SDT process model) for physical activity explanation among the Chinese population. The findings highlight the positive roles of autonomy causality orientation and perceived autonomy support for basic psychological needs satisfaction, self-determined behavioral regulation and physical activity behavior.

No description available.