Résumé
Undergraduate women (UW) generally exercise less than their male peers, a gap that widened throughout the COVID-19 pandemic due to limited access to opportunities and support. A promising approach to enhance exercise motivation is peer-mentorship (PM) program: pairing knowledge-seeking individuals with experienced mentors. To date, theoretically grounded UW PM research remains sparse. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, this experimental study explored how UW exercise engagement influenced motivation through a 6-week campus-based program. Both groups were expected to improve, with greater gains anticipated for intervention participants. Full-time inactive UW were randomized to an exercise-only or exercise-plus-PM condition. Six senior students with exercise expertise were trained as mentors via a workshop on motivational interviewing. All participants received a campus facility tour and encouragement to exercise triweekly. Mentors exercised with intervention participants once weekly and provided interim virtual support. Motivation was assessed at three time points using the Behavioural Regulations in Exercise Scale-3 (BREQ-3) and Psychological Needs Satisfaction in Exercise Scale (PNSES); an open-ended exit-questionnaire captured program experiences. Twenty-six participants (13 control; 13 intervention) completed the program (M age = 24.3). Both conditions significantly (p < .05) increased their external, identified, and integrated regulation, and autonomy and competence. Intervention participants significantly improved their relatedness and amotivation. Qualitatively, participants appreciated the self-guided format, educational material, and peer-support. Results suggest that brief PM can positively influence motivational constructs to support exercise adherence and address UW unique barriers. Findings will be shared with campus stakeholders to help establish a foundation for lifelong habits.
