Why do you run? Comparing identified and intrinsic motivation in runners

Abstract

Considering only half of the United States population engages in the recommended amount of exercise (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014), and the dangerous implications of a sedentary lifestyle (Ekelund et al., 2015), it becomes imperative to investigate the motivations behind sport, exercise, and physical activity. Due to the mixed findings regarding different types of motivation in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) (Ryan & Deci, 1985), the present study attempted to show that identified regulations would predict and account for more variance in behavior adherence, intensity of exercise, and life satisfaction than would intrinsic regulations. An online survey was used to collect data from individuals who had participated in a 5K race, 10K race, half-marathon, or marathon. Correlation and regression analyses supported the above hypothesis. These results indicate SDT, as it is currently conceptualized, may not be as applicable to the domain of sport and exercise behavior as previously thought.