Examining the Relationships Among Cognitive Acceptance, Behavioral Commitment, Autonomous Extrinsic Motivation, and Physical Activity

in Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology

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Matthew JenkinsUniversity of Otago

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Elaine A. HargreavesUniversity of Otago

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Ken HodgeUniversity of Otago

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2018-0276
Keywords:
psychological flexibility; psychological-needs satisfaction; self-determination; structural equation modeling
First Published Online:
09 Mar 2020
In Print:
Volume 42: Issue 3
Page Range:
177–184
Restricted access

This study examined the relationships among cognitive acceptance, behavioral commitment, psychological need satisfaction, autonomous extrinsic motivation (EM) for physical activity (PA), and PA behavior. Participants (N = 456, M age = 40.7 years) completed online measures of these variables, and data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results indicated a direct pathway from behavioral commitment to autonomous EM, plus indirect effects via autonomy, competence, and relatedness. There was no direct pathway from cognitive acceptance to autonomous EM, but there were indirect effects via competence and autonomy satisfaction. There was a direct pathway from cognitive acceptance to self-reported PA plus indirect effects via autonomous EM. There was no direct pathway from behavioral commitment to self-reported PA, but there were indirect effects via autonomous EM. Cognitive acceptance and behavioral commitment potentially support the development of autonomous EM for PA. Future research using longitudinal and intervention-based research designs is required to determine the causal relationships among these variables.

The authors are with the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Jenkins (matthew.jenkins@otago.ac.nz) is corresponding author.
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