Abstract
Few studies have tested theoretical contentions about the uniqueness and co-occurrence of satisfying and frustrating psychological needs while exercising. We examined the combined influence of exercise-need satisfaction and frustration on exercise and mental health. Undergraduate students (N=298; Mage=19.53 years, SD=3.79; 68.5% woman) completed self-report assessments at one time and wore an accelerometer for the next 6 full days. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a hierarchical structure with higher-order factors of exercise-need satisfaction and exercise-need frustration (CFI=.97, RMSEA=.04 [90%CI(.03, .05) rneedsat.needfrus =-.35, p < .01]). Four polynomial regression analyses (outcomes: symptoms of depression, flourishing, MVPA in bouts > 10 minutes, and unbouted MVPA) with response surface analysis using manifest variables were estimated. Exercise-need satisfaction was independently associated with flourishing, symptoms of depression, and unbouted MVPA, whereas exercise-need frustration was independently associated with symptoms of depression only. Response surface analysis suggested that flourishing was highest when both satisfaction and frustration were high, but optimal mental health (lower depression and higher flourishing) was most consistently observed when satisfaction exceeded frustration. Unbouted MVPA increased when both need satisfaction and frustration were high simultaneously, yet there was no indication that activity levels changed depending on which was higher. Models explained a small-to-moderate proportion of variance (R2=.01-.23). Overall, these results show some support for the conceptual distinction between exercise need satisfaction and frustration. Although the two experiences can co-occur, better mental health occurs when satisfaction outweighs frustration. More research is needed to understand the null findings for bouted MVPA.
