Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011;10(3):363-374.
doi: 10.1080/15298868.2010.534238. Epub 2011 Jan 10.

A longitudinal diary study of the effects of causality orientations on exercise-related affect

Bethany M Kwan  1 , Ann E Caldwell Hooper  2 , Renee E Magnan  2 , Angela D Bryan  2
Affiliations

A longitudinal diary study of the effects of causality orientations on exercise-related affect

Bethany M Kwan et al. Self Identity. 2011.

Abstract

According to self-determination theory, a tendency to view causes of a behavior as autonomous, controlled, or impersonal can influence motivation, self-regulation, and experience. We propose that causality orientations for exercise may shape self-determined regulations for exercise by leading to more positive exercise-related affect, leading to greater internalization of exercise behavior and more self-determined regulations to exercise (e.g., regulation on the basis of inherent interest and personally-held values).

Methods: Participants (N = 104) kept an online diary for four weeks documenting exercise behavior and affect experienced during exercise. Exercise causality orientations were measured at baseline and exercise regulations were measured at follow-up. Analyses were performed using multilevel modeling and path analysis.

Results: Exercise-related affect was more positive for those with higher levels of the autonomy orientation and lower levels of the impersonal orientation. Exercise-related affect partially mediated the relationship between autonomy and impersonal orientations and self-determined regulations for exercise.

Conclusions: Affective responses to self-selected exercise were more positive for those who tend to perceive exercise opportunities as more autonomous, which in turn led to more self-determined regulations.

Keywords: Affective response; Intrinsic motivation; Physical activity; Self-determination theory.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Path analysis testing direct and indirect effects of causality orientations on self-determined motivation. Note: Standardized path coefficients are shown. Non-significant paths and covariances are shown as dashed lines. *p<.05; **p<.01; ***p<.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Baumeister RF, Vohs KD, DeWall CN, Zhang L. How emotion shapes behavior: Feedback, anticipation, and reflection, rather than direct causation. Personality and Social Psychology Review. 2007;11(2):167–203. - PubMed
    1. Bock BC, Marcus BH, Pinto BM, Forsyth LH. Maintenance of physical activity following an individualized motivationally tailored intervention. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2001;23:79–87. - PubMed
    1. Deci EL. The psychology of self-determination. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath; 1980.
    1. Deci EL, Ryan RM. The General Causality Orientations Scale: Self-determination in personality. Journal of Research in Personality. 1985;19:109–134.
    1. Deci EL, Ryan RM. Facilitating optimal motivation and psychological well-being across life’s domains. Canadian Psychology. 2008;49(1):14–23.

LinkOut - more resources