Examining Relationships Between Perceived Psychological Need Satisfaction and Behavioral Regulations in Exercise

The purpose of this study was to examine the proposition that psychological need satisfaction plays a role in the motives regulating exercise behavior. Participants completed self‐report instruments assessing perceived psychological need satisfaction and exercise regulation at the outset and end of a 12‐week structured exercise class. Greater perceived psychological need satisfaction predicted endorsement of more self‐determined exercise regulations in the structural equation modeling analysis. Change score analyses revealed that increased perceived need fulfillment was positively correlated with more self‐determined exercise regulations, although this pattern was most prominent for competence and autonomy. Collectively, these findings indicate perceptions of competence and autonomy—and to a lesser extent relatedness—and represent important factors shaping exercise motivation. Continued investigation of basic psychological need fulfillment via exercise appears justified.