Abstract
Objective - Self-determination theory is used as a framework for examining the relation between motivation and physical activity. The purpose of this review was to systematically review studies that assessed the association between self-determined motivation and physical activity levels in children and adolescents. Method - We searched electronic databases in April 2013. Included studies assessed the relation between motivation (as outlined in self-determination theory) and physical activity in children and adolescents. Results - Forty-six studies (n = 15,984 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis indicated that overall levels of self-determined motivation had a weak to moderate, positive associations with physical activity (ρ = .21 to .31). Autonomous forms of motivation (i.e., intrinsic motivation and identified regulation) had moderate, positive associations with physical activity (ρ = .27 to .38), whereas controlled forms of motivation (i.e., introjection and external regulation) had weak, negative associations with physical activity (ρ = − .03 to −.17). Amotivation had a weak, negative association with physical activity (ρ = − .11 to − .21). Conclusions - Evidence provides some support for self-determination theory tenets. However, there was substantial heterogeneity in most associations and many studies had methodological shortcomings.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 270-279 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Preventive Medicine |
Volume | 67 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- children
- developmental psychology and motivation
- exercise
- teenagers