What moves you? The relation between exercise motivation and well-being using a person-centered approach

BACKGROUND: The benefits of physical activity for health and well-being are well-documented. However, the quality of exercise motivation may be an important boundary condition. Building on the Self-Determination Theory, we explore how exercise motivation is associated with well-being outcomes. METHODS: 335 adults completed an anonymous online questionnaire. Exercise motivation was assessed using the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3). Cluster analysis was performed to identify motivational profiles. Mean differences in basic psychological needs, physical activity levels, subjective well-being, subjective health, and BMI were investigated for the observed motivational profiles. RESULTS: Four motivational clusters were identified based on the degree of controlled and autonomous motivation. Those profiles with high autonomous motivation report higher physical activity levels, but those with coexisting controlled motivation experience less well-being benefits, as they report worse subjective health and more negative affect than those without coexisting controlled motivation. CONCLUSION: Building on the Self-Determination Theory, this study demonstrates that the quality of exercise motivation matters, as controlled motivation is associated with lower well-being and seems to offset the beneficial associations of autonomous motivation. We argue that the quality of exercise motivation should be considered in the context of well-being, in order to guarantee beneficial outcomes.