Multidimensional exercise amotivation beliefs across exercise stages of change

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine differences in exercise amotivation beliefs, specifically levels of capacity, effort, value, and task characteristics, across the exercise stages of change. A sample of 766 men and women aged 19 to 64 years indicated their exercise stage of change and completed the Revised Amotivation Toward Exercise Scale - 2 to indicate their levels of capacity, effort, value, and task characteristics as exercise amotivation beliefs. Analyses of covariance using the stages of change as the independent variable, the four amotivation scores as the dependent variables, and sex, age, BMI, and educational level as covariates revealed that the precontemplators reported stronger capacity, effort, and task characteristics amotivation beliefs compared to members of the contemplation, action, and maintenance groups. Also, contemplators reported stronger capacity, effort, and task characteristics amotivation beliefs compared to the maintenance group. Further, the preparation group reported stronger capacity amotivation beliefs compared to the maintainers. No value exercise amotivation differences emerged between the exercise stages. Sex had a small effect on capacity beliefs with men tending to report lower capacity amotivation beliefs. Age did not have any effect on any type of exercise amotivation. Educational level had a small effect on value amotivation beliefs with higher educational levels corresponding to lower value amotivation. BMI had a medium effect on capacity, and a small effect on effort and task characteristics beliefs with persons of greater BMI reporting higher levels of amotivation. The present findings support continued research on the role of multidimensional exercise amotivation beliefs in better understanding the exercise behavior change process.