An exploration into the development of motivation to exercise in a group of male UK regular gym users

Abstract

A key concern when developing health promotion programmes is how to facilitate adherence to regular exercise. This study explored the values, beliefs and experiences, both past and present, that motivated adult participation in regular recreational exercise. Twenty-eight male gym users who met the American College of Sports Medicine recommendations on Quantity and Quality of Exercise completed the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory and the Perceived Competence Scale. Five participants who scored highly on both the scales took part in semi-structured interviews to explore the factors that led to their regular exercise behaviour. Interview data were subjected to thematic analysis. The development of motivation to exercise regularly was associated with social-environmental factors during childhood that provided encouragement and a variety of opportunities to engage in exercise. This progressed to a stage when the focus was on exercise competence achieved by encouragement, guidance and positive affirmation from teachers, coaches and peers. The final stage shows how the participants' adherence to exercise has become a vital element in the creation of their sense of their identities and their physical and psychological health. The findings of this study suggest that motivation to exercise regularly is developed along a continuum from childhood to adulthood and although the meaning derived from these experiences was different for each participant, a common thread emerged of the importance of choice, support and social-environmental opportunities in creating each participant's exercise role identity.

Keywords:

• physical activity
• regular gym users
• adherence
• developmental model