Relationships among exercise motivations, exercise preferences, and mental health benefits

This study will examine how different motivations for exercise (i.e. improving mental health, improving physical health, connecting with others, etc) are associated with the type of exercise a person engages in (e.g., aerobic, strength, balance/flexibility), their perceptions of different types of exercise , and the perceived benefits/barriers of different types of exercise. Specifically, in samples of physically active college students and community members, we will examine how they perceive different types of exercises and their value based on their primary exercise motive. Additionally, this study aims to determine if the different motivations for exercise are associated with the benefits one receives from the exercise itself (i.e. mental health benefits and perceived physical health benefits).