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University students' exercise intention in the context of technology assistance: testing an integrated model of SDT
Jingyi Wang1, Syed Kamaruzaman Bin Syed Ali1, Wenting Bao2
1Department of Educational Foundations and Humanities, Universiti Malaya Faculty of Education, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Purpose:
This study explores the psychological mechanisms underlying university students' intentions to engage in technology-assisted exercise, focusing on campus running applications for university physical exercise management in China.
Method:
Guided by an integrated Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework, data were collected from 477 undergraduates. Five psychological needs-autonomy, competence, relatedness, novelty, and variety-were examined as predictors of exercise intention, with attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control as mediators. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for analysis.
Results:
The findings showed that basic psychological needs significantly predicted exercise intention. Perceived behavioral control was the strongest mediator, whereas subjective norms had no significant influence.
Discussion/Conclusion:
This study highlights the roles of novelty, variety, and perceived control in sustaining motivation, refining SDT-TPB integration, and informing the design of digital health interventions for students.
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