<p><i>Background.</i>
Regular physical activity is beneficial for older adults in order to protect
against age related injuries and illnesses, and to maintain their independence and
quality of life. However, older adults are the least likely age group to meet
the physical activity guidelines set forth by the American College of Sports
Medicine and World Health Organization. According to the self-determination
theory framework, health practitioners and exercise instructors should aim to create
and deliver interventions in a way that fosters an autonomy-supportive health
care climate (e.g., taking the perspectives of patients, providing choices) to
facilitate satisfaction of the basic psychological needs and self-determined
motivation. <i>Purpose</i>. The specific
aims of this study were to (1) determine whether autonomy support is associated
with physical activity-related need for autonomy, autonomous regulation, and
physical activity behavior; and to (2) determine whether autonomy support
moderates the association between physical activity-related need for autonomy and
autonomous regulation. <i>Methods.</i> The
design of the study was longitudinal. A total of 431 adults aged ≥ 55 years completed
an online survey (Baseline – Week 0) containing self-determination theory-related
predictor variables, along with past month and past week physical activity. Weekly
online physical activity recall questionnaires were completed for four weeks
(at Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, and Week 4). The product of coefficient <i>a</i> × <i>b</i>
approach was used to test the mediation effect using multiple linear regression
analysis. The Monte Carlo 95% confidence interval [95% CI] (5,000 bootstrap
samples) for the mediated effects were obtained using Hayes SAS MCMED macro. <i>Results. </i>Physical activity-related need
for autonomy was found to partially mediate the relationship between autonomy
support and autonomous regulation, but only for those who were engaging in
physical activity 2 days per week (0.0195 [0.0004, 0.0438]) and ≥ 4 days
per week (0.0390 [0.0098,
0.0774]). Additionally, the physical
activity-related need for autonomy and autonomous regulation were found to
mediate the relationship between autonomy support and physical activity, but
only for those who were previously physically active (≥ 4 days per week in the
last month) and younger (e.g. aged 58 years). Autonomy support was not found to
moderate the need for autonomy-autonomous regulation relationship. Physical
activity-related need for competence was positively associated with autonomous
regulation and physical activity behavior. <i>Conclusion.</i>
In line with the self-determination theory, the current findings suggest that
the facilitation of autonomy support and the subsequent fulfillment of the
psychological needs; consequently, lead to an increase in autonomous
regulation. Future research should consider how the need for competence plays a
role in physical activity participation beyond autonomous regulation as adults
age. </p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/8966270 |
| Date | 12 August 2019 |
| Creators | John M Baier (7010516) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/Autonomy_Support_Satisfaction_of_the_Need_for_Autonomy_and_Autonomous_Regulation_for_Physical_Activity_in_Older_Adults/8966270 |
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