Examining the link between exercise motivation and preferred exercise setting in college students

Introduction: This study examined differences in self-determined motivation between those who prefer to exercise outdoors vs indoors. These differences could foster targeted applications of Self-Determination Theory to develop intrinsic exercise motivation. Participants: n = 506 students attending a mid-size four-year university in the southeastern United States participated. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using a modified version of the Exercise Motivations Inventory (EMI-2). Results: Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, three exercise motivations were identified: intrinsic, extrinsic, and social. Using structural equation modeling, we found higher extrinsic motivation was associated with indoor exercise preference, whereas higher social motivation was associated with outdoor exercise preference. Discussion: This study revealed exercise setting as a possible contributing factor for self-determined motivation. Those who prefer to exercise indoors may be at higher risk of strengthening external regulation. Interventions that support psychological needs may help foster self-determined exercise motivation among college students.