Do Autonomous Exercise Regulations Underpin Different Types of Exercise Imagery?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between exercise regulations varying in self-determination and exercise imagery. Female Canadian university exercise participants (N = 165) completed measures of exercise regulations and exercise imagery following an exercise class. Descriptive statistics indicated participants held more self-determined reasons for exercise participation in the form of greater endorsement of both identified and intrinsic exercise regulations, as well as reporting more frequent use of appearance related exercise imagery. Canonical correlation analysis revealed two significant canonical functions (Rc1 =. 47, Rc2 =. 30). The first function suggested that more self-determined exercise regulations were associated with both appearance and technique imagery, while the second function revealed that introjected regulation was most strongly associated with appearance-related imagery. Collectively, these data suggest that the content of exercise imagery can be understood within a theoretical framework that clarifies the functional role played by different images in exercise promotion based upon their motivational foundations.