Abstract
This study investigated the associations between an individual's motivational orientation (intrinsic or extrinsic motivation) and the participants' exercise duration, pre and post exercise mood (vigor and fatigue) as well as post-experimental motivation outcomes (competence, interest, effort and pressure). Young inactive healthy weight females (N=42; Mage =21.59 + 3.31 years; MBMI = 21.59 + 2.11 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to either an intrinsic or extrinsic motivation group. The participants exercised on a treadmill beside a confederate who was providing them with either intrinsic or extrinsic verbal cues, depending on the experimental group. Exercise duration was recorded. Participants also completed a self-report questionnaire assessing mood pre and post-PA and post-PA perceptions. Compared to those in the extrinsic motivation group, participants in the intrinsic motivation group were more likely to continue PA at study completion (?²(1) = 7.00, p = 0.01), reported significantly higher levels of vigor after exercising (Mvigor pre = 1.28 ± 0.73; Mvigor post = 1.62 ± 0.88) and perceived that they exerted significantly more effort (Mintrinsic = 5.01 ±1.28; Mextrinsic = 4.30 ±1.09). These results suggest that having an exercise partner who is providing intrinsically focused verbal cues may motivate an individual to exercise longer and can have beneficial outcomes on one's own exercise behaviours.
