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Updated: May 6, 2026

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
The importance of self-determined motivation towards physical activity in patients with schizophrenia
Davy Vancampfort1, Marc De Hert, Maarten Vansteenkiste
1University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven Campus Kortenberg, KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Leuvensesteenweg 517, B-3070 Kortenberg, Belgium; KU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tervuursevest 101, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
There is a need for theoretically-based research on the motivational processes linked to the commencement and continuation of physical activity in patients with schizophrenia. Within the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) framework, we investigated the SDT tenets in these patients by examining the factor structure of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 (BREQ-2) and by investigating associations between motivation and PA. The secondary aim was to study differences in motivation according to gender, educational level, treatment setting and disease stage. A total of 129 patients (44♀) with schizophrenia agreed to participate. Exploratory factor analysis showed sufficient convergence with the original factor for amotivation, external and introjected regulation, while identified and intrinsic regulations loaded on a single factor which we labeled "autonomous regulation". Significant positive correlations were found between the total physical activity score and the subscales amotivation (r = -0.44, P < 0.001), external regulation (r = -0.27, P < 0.001), and autonomous regulation (r = 0.57, P < 0.001). Outpatients reported more external (P < 0.05) and introjected (P < 0.05) regulations than inpatients. Our results suggest that patients' level of self-determination may play an important role in the adoption and maintenance of health promoting behaviors in patients with schizophrenia.
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